HIGH-RIDING
BOK STAR NOMINATED THREE TIMES
HOOKER Malcolm Marx’s form at test level this year has been one of the few highlights for the Springboks and he was duly recognised with a nomination for SA Rugby Player of the Year yesterday. Marx‚ 23‚ is nominated in three categories‚ including Young Player of the Year and Super Rugby Player of the Year. Britain’s Sunday Times named Marx as the only Bok in its team of the recent international.
In the main category, Marx will go up against Bok skipper Eben Etzebeth‚ Stormers captain and Bok flank Siya Kolisi‚ fellow Lions teammate Jaco Kriel and centre Jan Serfontein.
Four players are also nominated in two other categories – Kriel (SA Rugby and Super Rugby Player of the Year)‚ Warrick Gelant (Young Player and Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year)‚ and Curwin Bosch and Damian Willemse‚ both nominated for Young Player and Junior Springbok Player of the Year.
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said: “Four of these five players are aged 23 and younger‚ which bodes very well for the future of the game here in South Africa.
“I congratulate Malcolm‚ Jaco‚ Warrick‚ Curwin and Damian on their multiple nominations.”
The awards for Coach and Team of the Year are a straight shootout between three sides and their coaches – the Springbok Sevens team and Neil Powell‚ the Lions and Johan Ackermann‚ and Western Province and John Dobson.
Nominees:
Player of the Year: 1 Eben Etzebeth, 2 Siya Kolisi, 3 Jaco Kriel, 4 Malcolm Marx, 5 Jan Serfontein Young Player of the Year: 1 Curwin Bosch, 2 Jean-Luc du Preez, 3 Warrick Gelant, 4 Malcolm Marx, 5 Damian Willemse Team of the Year: 1 Emirates Lions (Super Rugby runners-up), 2 Springbok Sevens (World Rugby Sevens Series winners), 3 Western Province (Currie Cup Premier Division and SuperSport Challenge winners) Coach of the Year: 1 Johan Ackermann (Lions), 2 John Dobson (WP), 3 Neil Powell (Bok Sevens) Sevens Player of the Year: 1 Chris Dry, 2 Werner Kok, 3 Rosko Specman Junior Bok Player of the Year: 1 Juarno Augustus, 2 Curwin Bosch, 3 Damian Willemse Super Rugby Player of the Tournament: 1 Jaco Kriel (Lions), 2 Malcolm Marx (Lions), 3 Franco Mostert (Lions) Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year: 1 Nizaam Carr (WP), 2 Robert du Preez (WP), 3 Warrick Gelant (Blue Bulls) Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year: 1 Jaun Kotze (Griffons), 2 Tertius Maarman (Griffons), 3 Jeandré Rudolph (Leopards) SuperSport Challenge Player of the Year: 1 Craig Barry (WP), 2 Enver Brandt (Griquas), 3 Shaun Reynolds (Golden Lions XV)