PIETER-STEPH, MARX GO
PIETER-STEPH du Toit and Malcolm Marx, are among the five nominees for the SA Rugby Player of the Year Award 2018.
Meanwhile, the Blitzboks and their coach, Neil Powell, have yet again been nominated in two categories following their successful defence of their World Rugby Sevens Series crown earlier this year.
The two bruising Springbok forwards – Marx and Du Toit – are up against their national teammates Aphiwe Dyantyi, who won the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Award last month, Franco Mostert and Handre Pollard. And in the category for Young Player of the Year, Springbok lock RG Snyman is up against four fleet-footed backs in Aphelele Fassi, Sbu Nkosi, Embrose Papier and Damian Willemse.
Two teams and their coaches were nominated in the categories for Team and Coach of the Year – Powell, and Swys de Bruin of the Lions, who finished as runners-up in Super Rugby. They are joined by Bok coach Rassie Erasmus.
“These are exciting times for SA rugby and the number of new players who made their mark for the Springboks is encouraging for the future,” said Mark Alexander, president of SA Rugby.
“I would like to congratulate all the nominees for their outstanding performances over the last year and wish them well for (next year), which is a massive year for us. The Springboks have shown a great resurgence under (Erasmus) and his coaching team and the fact that the media nominated him as one of their three Coaches of the Year is testimony to this ... We’re also very proud of the Blitzboks and their coach, (Powell).”
The other categories where awards will be made are: Coca-Cola Craven Week Player of the Tournament, Outsurance Referee of the Year and Springbok Women’s Achiever of the Year.
The winners will be announced before the start of the next year’s Vodacom Super Rugby campaign.
THE NOMINEES
Player of the Year: Pieter-Steph du Toit; Aphiwe Dyantyi; Malcolm Marx; Franco Mostert; Handre Pollard
Young Player: Aphelele Fassi; Sbu Nkosi; Embrose Papier; RG Snyman; Damian Willemse
Team: Lions; Sharks; Springbok Sevens Coach of the Year: Swys de Bruin (Lions); Rassie Erasmus (Springboks); Neil Powell (Springbok Sevens)
Springbok Sevens Player: Werner Kok; Ruhan Nel; Dylan Sage
Junior Springbok Player: Tyrone Green; Salmaan Moerat; Wandisile Simelane; Damian Willemse
Super Rugby Player: Aphiwe Dyantyi (Lions); Malcolm Marx (Lions); Franco Mostert (Lions)
Currie Cup Premier Division Player:
SP Marais (WP); Sergeal Petersen (WP); Akker van der Merwe (Sharks)
Currie Cup First Division Player:
Divan Nel (SWD Eagles); Anrich Richter (Valke); Etienne Taljaard (Valke) SuperSport Rugby Challenge Player: Enver Brandt (Griquas); Ruwellyn Isbell (Pumas); Chris Smith (Pumas); Stefan Ungerer (Pumas)