The battle lines are drawn! Springbok titans are set to clash, not on the rugby field this time, but for the coveted title of SA Rugby's Men's Player of the Year! The nominations for the 2025 SA Rugby Awards are in, and it's a Springbok showdown, showcasing the incredible depth and talent within the national squad. But here's where it gets controversial: can a player from a less-publicized position, like a prop, truly stack up against a flashy backline star in the eyes of the judges?
Leading the charge is Malcolm Marx, fresh off his World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year triumph last year. He's a force to be reckoned with, but he'll face stiff competition from his fellow Springboks: the ever-reliable Pieter-Steph du Toit, the exciting young talent Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the rock-solid Ox Nche, and the powerful Jasper Wiese. What a lineup! These five players represent the best of South African rugby, and each has a compelling case for taking home the top honor.
Last year's champion, Cheslin Kolbe, unfortunately, didn't receive a nomination this time around, proving that even the brightest stars need to consistently shine to stay at the top. That's the cutthroat nature of professional sports!
The nominations, meticulously chosen by members of the media and the coaching staff of national teams, span across nine categories, highlighting the breadth of talent across South African rugby. The eagerly awaited announcement of the winners will also include the OUTsurance Referee of the Year, Provincial Women’s Player of the Year, Associate Member of the Year, and the ever-popular FNB Fans’ Moment of the Year awards. It's a celebration of the entire rugby ecosystem!
Du Toit and Nche are no strangers to this stage, having been shortlisted last year as well. Both were also nominated for the World Rugby Award, placing them among the elite players globally. Feinberg-Mngomezulu, along with the other four nominees, earned a spot in World Rugby's 2025 Dream Team, further solidifying their exceptional performances. Wiese also enjoyed a fantastic season, earning his first-ever nomination for this prestigious award. This reflects a rising trend of recognizing forwards for their crucial contributions to the team's success.
On the women's side, Nadine Roos, the reigning local champion, is back in the running for the Women’s Player of the Year Award! She'll be up against formidable opponents: Aseza Hele, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Babalwa Latsha, and Byrhandré Dolf. This quartet played crucial roles in propelling South Africa to their first-ever Women’s Rugby World Cup quarterfinal appearance, a truly watershed moment for the Springbok Women. It showcases the incredible progress and growing competitiveness of women's rugby in South Africa.
The Young Player of the Year category is equally exciting, featuring a blend of established talent and rising stars. Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Canan Moodie, and Zachary Porthen all gained valuable Test rugby experience in 2025, while Haashim Pead was instrumental in the Junior Boks' World Rugby U20 Championship victory. This award highlights the future of South African rugby and the promising talent emerging from the youth ranks.
Pead also received a nomination for Junior Springbok Player of the Year, alongside SA U20 captain Riley Norton and Cheswill Jooste. The Springbok Sevens Men’s Player of the Year Award will be contested by Selvyn Davids, Shilton van Wyk, and Impi Visser, all key members of the Blitzbok squad that clinched the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles. This victory underscores the continued dominance of South Africa in the sevens format.
The success of South Africa's national teams is further reflected in the nominations for Coach and Team of the Year. Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks, Philip Snyman and the Blitzboks, and Kevin Foote and the Junior Boks are all in contention for the Team of the Year Award, while Swys de Bruin is nominated for Coach of the Year after guiding the Bok Women to their best-ever Rugby World Cup finish. But and this is the part most people miss, does the award recognize the coach's tactical brilliance or the sheer motivation and inspiration they instill in their players?
On the domestic front, Griquas' strong performance in the Currie Cup Premier Division is acknowledged with nominations for Gurshwin Wehr and George Whitehead, who will compete against Donavan Don of the Boland Kavaliers. In the First Division, Andrew Kota and Willem van den Hever of the Griffons will face a challenge from Keagan Fortune of the Falcons. This highlights the importance of recognizing talent at all levels of South African rugby.
Here's a complete list of nominees for each category:
SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year
- Pieter-Steph du Toit
- Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
- Malcolm Marx
- Ox Nche
- Jasper Wiese
SA Rugby Women’s Player of the Year
- Byrhandré Dolf
- Aseza Hele
- Libbie Janse van Rensburg
- Babalwa Latsha
- Nadine Roos
SA Rugby Young Player of the Year
- Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Springboks / Stormers)
- Ethan Hooker (Springboks / Sharks)
- Canan Moodie (Springboks / Bulls)
- Haashim Pead (Junior Springboks / Lions)
- Zachary Porthen (Springboks / Stormers)
Springbok Sevens Men’s Player of the Year
- Selvyn Davids
- Shilton van Wyk
- Impi Visser
Junior Springbok Player of the Year
- Cheswill Jooste
- Riley Norton
- Haashim Pead
Team of the Year
- Junior Springboks
- Springboks
- Springbok Sevens
Coach of the Year
- Swys de Bruin (Springbok Women)
- Rassie Erasmus (Springboks)
- Kevin Foote (Junior Springboks)
- Philip Snyman (Springbok Sevens)
Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year
- Donavan Don (Boland Kavaliers)
- Gurshwin Wehr (Griquas)
- George Whitehead (Griquas)
Carling Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year
- Keagan Fortune (Falcons)
- Andrew Kota (Griffons)
- Willem van den Hever (Griffons)
Fans’ Moments of the Year
- The Springboks’ defence of the Rugby Championship title
- The Springbok Women’s best-ever performance at a Rugby World Cup
- The Springboks’ unbeaten run on the Outgoing Tour in November
- The Junior Springboks winning the World Rugby U20 Championship
- The Springboks’ record victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand
- The Springbok Sevens winning the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles
So, who do you think deserves to take home the top awards? Is it time for a forward to finally claim the Men's Player of the Year title, or will a backline maestro steal the show? And what about the Bok Women – whose performance do you feel resonated most with fans? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below – we're eager to hear your opinions!
