Steph steals the show
Pieter-Steph du Toit was deservedly named 2018 SA Rugby Player of the year on Thursday following a stellar season last year to become only the fifth player to win the award twice since 1992.
The utility forward‚ who is equally comfortable at flank and lock‚ joined modern Bok greats Bryan Habana (2005‚ 2007 and 2012)‚ Schalk Burger (2004 and 2011)‚ Jean de Villiers (2008 and 2013) and Fourie du Preez (2006 and 2009) as multiple winners.
Du Toit also had the honour of becoming Springbok captain number 60 when he led the team against Wales in Washington last year.
The 26-year-old Du Toit‚ who has collected 46 caps since his Test debut in 2013‚ was sublime in the green and gold last year.
His efforts on the field saw him edge out fellow Boks Aphiwe Dyantyi‚ Franco Mostert‚ Handré Pollard and last year’s winner‚ Malcolm Marx‚ for the top award. Du Toit made a staggering 202 tackles‚ 128 ball carries and took 28 lineouts in 14 Tests last year.
He and Steven Kitshoff are the only players who featured in every Springbok match of 2018.
“This is a magnificent achievement for Pieter-Steph and very well deserved after a superb season for the Springboks and the Stormers. On behalf of the entire South African rugby fraternity‚ I would like to congratulate him‚” SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said. “Pieter-Steph was a tireless workhorse for the Springboks in 2018 and apart from the many big hits and strong runs he put in‚ he also played a key leadership role within the team.”
Rassie Erasmus‚ director of rugby‚ said: “Pieter-Steph was simply superb last year and he thoroughly deserves this award.
“His contribution to the team‚ as a tireless workhorse who never gives up‚ but also as one of the leaders in our squad‚ was invaluable‚ and I would like to congratulate him on this wonderful achievement.”
The Springbok Sevens team and their coach‚ Neil Powell‚ recorded a unique double when they were rewarded for another superb season in which they successfully defended their HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title in dramatic fashion‚ by winning the awards for Team and Coach of the Year.
Dylan Sage‚ who made the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Dream Team for 2017-18‚ was named Springbok Sevens Player of the Year.
Exciting midfielder Wandisile Simelane won the award for Junior Springbok Player of the Year and Nolusindiso Booi‚ the Springbok Women’s captain‚ was named the Women’s Achiever of the Year for 2018.
Springbok tourist Sergeal Petersen‚ who scored eight tries in eight matches for Western Province last year‚ was the Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year‚ while the Valke’s Etienne Taljaard‚ with 13 tries in seven appearances‚ won the ac- colade for the First Division.
All the winners:
Very well deserved after a superb season for the Boks and the Stormers
SA Rugby Player of the Year: PieterSteph du Toit
Other nominees: Aphiwe Dyantyi‚ Malcolm Marx‚ Franco Mostert‚ Handré Pollard SA Rugby Young Player of the Year: Sbu Nkosi Other nominees: Aphelele Fassi‚ Embrose Papier‚ RG Snyman‚ Damian Willemse Team of the Year: Springbok Sevens Other nominees: Lions (Super Rugby)‚ Sharks (Currie Cup)
Coach of the Year: Neil Powell Other nominees: Swys de Bruin‚ Rassie Erasmus Springbok Sevens Player of the Year: Dylan Sage
Other nominees: Werner Kok‚ Ruhan Nel Junior Springbok Player of the Year: Wandisile Simelane
Other nominees: Salmaan Moerat‚ Tyrone Green‚ Damian Willemse Super Rugby Player of the Tournament: Aphiwe Dyantyi (Lions) Other nominees: Malcolm Marx‚ Franco Mostert (both Emirates Lions) Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year: Sergeal Petersen (WP) Other nominees: SP Marais (WP)‚ Akker van der Merwe (Cell C Sharks) Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year: Etienne Taljaard (Valke)
Other nominees: Divan Nel (SWD Eagles)‚ Anrich Richter (Valke) SuperSport Rugby Challenge Player of the Year: Chris Smith (ISG Pumas) Other nominees: Enver Brandt (Tafel Lager Griquas)‚ Ruwellyn Isbell (ISG Pumas)‚ Stefan Ungerer (ISG Pumas) Craven Week Player of the Tournament: Evan Roos (Western Province) Referee of the Year: Jaco Peyper Women’s Achiever of the Year: Nolusindiso Bo