Springboks
Springbok speedster Cheslin Kolbe became the first backline player since 2013 to take the prestigious SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year title at a glittering SA Rugby Awards ceremony at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town on Thursday evening.
Nadine Roos took home the top women’s award for a second time.
SA Rugby said Kolbe’s incredible achievements throughout the 2024 season set him apart from an impressive field of nominees, which included previous winners Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit, as well as Damian De Allende and Ox Nche, to claim the top prize.
“His contributions played a pivotal role in the Springboks’ triumphant season, which saw the team secure 11 victories in 13 Tests and recapture the Castle Lager Rugby Championship and Freedom Cup titles.
“Kolbe’s electrifying pace and skill on the field were key to these successes, underscoring his reputation as one of the most dynamic players in world rugby,” SARU said.
As a result, the Springboks and Rassie Erasmus were named Team and Coach of the Year respectively on an evening where excellence across all spheres of South African rugby was celebrated.
The versatile Roos was honoured as SA Rugby Women’s Player of the Year for the second time in three years after also taking the award in 2022, for her outstanding contributions to both the fifteens and sevens formats of the Springbok Women’s game.
Emerging star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu received the Young Player of the Year award; Jurenzo Julius was named Junior Springbok Player of the Year; and Selvyn Davids, who was included in World Rugby’s Dream Team, was named the Springbok Sevens Player of the Year.
In domestic rugby, Renzo du Plessis (Fidelity ADT Lions) and Ashlon Davids (Sanlam Boland Cavaliers) were named the Carling Currie Cup Players of the Year for the Premier and First Divisions respectively, adding their names to that of Sanele Nohamba (Emirates Lions), who won the SA Vodacom URC Player of the Season Award for 2024.
Jakkie Cilliers, who topped the scoring charts and helped the Bulls Daisies to a second successive Women’s Premier Division title, was recognized as Provincial Women’s Player of the Year, while AJ Jacobs was named OUTsurance Referee of the Year for his excellent performances on both local and international stages.
SA Rugby president, Mark Alexander, hailed Kolbe’s achievement as a milestone for backline players while he also praised the contributions of all the other award winner.
“Cheslin’s recognition is a testament to his skill, dedication, and impact on the field,” he said.
“It’s amazing to think that the last backline player to win the top award was former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers in 2013, and to have Cheslin take the top prize this year, is just reward for the amazing things he’s done for the Springboks in the last six years.
“He truly embodies the spirit of excellence that defines South African rugby. We are blessed with incredible talent in South African rugby, as evidenced by the accomplishments of national players such as Nadine, Sacha, Jurenzo and Selvyn,” Alexander said.
