Surprise As Kolbe Is Crowned SA Rugby Player of the Year

Loose forward Pieter-Steph du Toit was the heavy favourite to become the first man in history to win the most prestigious award in South African rugby for a fourth time given he’s the reigning World Rugby Player of the Year.

However, tiny giant Kolbe ascended to the throne. Also nominated were scrummaging machine Ox Nche, Springbok centurion Eben Etzebeth and midfield maestro Damian de Allende.

A global superstar, Kolbe was an electrifying figure for South Africa throughout the 2024 season and became the first backline player to win the award since 2013.

The 31-year-old helped the Springboks claim the Rugby Championship, the Qatar Airways Cup, Mandela Challenge Plate, Freedom Cup and Prince William Cup as well as complete their first end-of-year clean sweep since 2013 and finish the season at the top of the world rankings.

And finally, the SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year is none other than Cheslin Kolbe 🇿🇦#SARugbyAwards #ForeverGreenForeverGold #Springboks pic.twitter.com/Pc3ALFvEqO

— Springboks (@Springboks) March 13, 2025

The Young Player of the Year award went to multi-talented rising star Sacha Fienberg-Mngomezulu, who beat out loose forward Cam Hanekom, fellow utility back Jordan Hendrikse, centre Henco van Wyk and fullback Quan Horn.

Fienberg-Mngomezulu, adept at flyhalf, centre and fullback, took to the Test arena like a duck to water and rapidly established himself as Handre Pollard’s heir apparent before injury cut his season short.

SA Rugby’s Young Player of the Year is Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 🙌#SARugbyAwards #ForeverGreenForeverGold #Springboks pic.twitter.com/yIhmsfQPQv

— Springboks (@Springboks) March 13, 2025

Jurenzo Julius saw off fellow next-generation stars Bathobele Hlekani and JF van Heerden for the Junior Springbok Player of the Year award, with Selvyn Davids blitzing Zain Davids and Ryan Oosthuizen to bag the Springbok Sevens Player of the Year gong.

On the club and domestic fronts, playmaker Sanele Nohamba won the United Rugby Championship Player of the Year award, while try-hungry flank Renzo du Plessis and promising flyhalf Ashlon Davids were crowned Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year and Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year respectively.

The SA Vodacom URC Player of the Season for 2024 was Sanele Nohamba of the Emirates Lions 🦁#SARugbyAwards #HitsDifferent @Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/5lRNoflTPr

— Springboks (@Springboks) March 13, 2025

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus won the Coach of the Year award, seeing off Blitzboks mentor Philip Snyman and Bulls boss Jake White, while the Springboks were named Team of the Year ahead of the Blitzboks, who won Olympic bronze, and the Sharks, who won the EPCR Challenge Cup and Currie Cup.

The Team of the Year – the #Springboks 💚💛#SARugbyAwards #ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/U1ToPdnTuV

— Springboks (@Springboks) March 13, 2025

On the women’s side, Nadine Roos was named Player of the Year and Jakkie Cilliersthe Provincial Player of the Year.

Meanwhile, the South African Schools Rugby Association was named Associate Member of the Year, the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union received the inaugural President’s Award for their exceptional achievements in access to the game, development, governance and performance, while AJ Jacobs was named Referee of the Year.

SA Rugby Awards 2024 winners and finalists (where applicable):

SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year: Cheslin Kolbe

Finalists: Damian De Allende, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche

SA Rugby Women’s Player of the Year: Nadine Roos

Finalists: Aseza Hele, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Chumisa Qawe, Vainah Ubisi

SA Rugby Young Player of the Year: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Springboks / DHL Stormers)

Finalists: Cameron Hanekom (Springboks / Vodacom Bulls), Jordan Hendrikse (Springboks / Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Springboks / Emirates Lions), Henco van Wyk (Emirates Lions)

Springbok Sevens Men’s Player of the Year: Selvyn Davids

Finalists: Zain Davids, Ryan Oosthuizen

Junior Springbok Player of the Year: Jurenzo Julius

Finalists: Bathobele Hlekani, JF van Heerden

Team of the Year: Springboks

Finalists: Hollywoodbets Sharks, Springbok Sevens

Coach of the Year: Rassie Erasmus (Springboks)

Finalists: Philip Snyman (Springbok Sevens), Jake White (Vodacom Bulls)

Carling Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year: Renzo du Plessis (Fidelity ADT Lions)

Finalists: Clinton Swart (Airlink Pumas), Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks XV)

Carling Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year: Ashlon Davids (Sanlam Boland Kavaliers)

Finalists: Jayden Bantom (Eastern Province), Thurlow Marsh (Sanlam Boland Kavaliers)

Provincial Women’s Player of the Year: Jakkie Cilliers (Bulls Daisies)

OUTsurance Referee of the Year: AJ Jacobs

President’s Award: KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union

SA Vodacom URC Player of the Season (announced last year): Sanele Nohamba (Emirates Lions)

SA Rugby Associate Member of the Year: SA Schools Rugby Association (SASRA)

SA Rugby Player of the Year winners (since 1992):

1992: Tiaan Strauss
1993: Gavin Johnson
1994: Chester Williams
1995: Ruben Kruger
1996: André Joubert
1997: Os du Randt
1998: Gary Teichmann
1999: André Venter
2000: Breyton Paulse
2001: André Vos
2002: Joe van Niekerk
2003: Ashwin Willemse
2004: Schalk Burger
2005: Bryan Habana
2006: Fourie du Preez
2007: Bryan Habana
2008: Jean de Villiers
2009: Fourie du Preez
2010: Gurthrö Steenkamp
2011: Schalk Burger
2012: Bryan Habana
2013: Jean de Villiers
2014: Duane Vermeulen
2015: Lood de Jager
2016: Pieter-Steph du Toit
2017: Malcolm Marx
2018: Pieter-Steph du Toit
2019: Pieter-Steph du Toit
2020: Duane Vermeulen
2021: Siya Kolisi
2022: Eben Etzebeth
2023: Eben Etzebeth
2024: Cheslin Kolbe