SA Rugby announced a star-studded list of nominees for the 2025 SA Rugby Awards on Friday, with Springbok heroes dominating the shortlists following another exceptional year for South African rugby.
Malcolm Marx, who claimed World Rugby’s Men’s 15s Player of the Year award last year, faces stiff competition from four Springbok teammates for SA Rugby’s prestigious Men’s Player of the Year Award. The hooker will battle against Pieter-Steph du Toit, rising star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, prop Ox Nche, and powerhouse No. 8 Jasper Wiese for the top honour.
Du Toit, a former winner of both SA Rugby and World Rugby’s top awards, returns to the shortlist alongside Nche, who were both nominated last year and also earned World Rugby Award nominations. All five nominees were named in World Rugby’s 2025 Dream Team, while Wiese receives his first nomination for South African rugby’s premier individual award after a stellar season.
The Women’s Player of the Year category showcases the depth of talent that helped the Springbok Women reach their first-ever Rugby World Cup quarter-finals. Last year’s winner Nadine Roos leads a field that includes four previous winners – Aseza Hele, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, and Babalwa Latsha – alongside newcomer Byrhandré Dolf.
The Young Player of the Year Award reflects South Africa’s bright future, with four of the five nominees having played Test rugby in 2025. Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Canan Moodie, and Zachary Porthen all earned international caps, while Haashim Pead played a crucial role in the Junior Springboks’ World Rugby U20 Championship triumph.
The success of South Africa’s national teams is reflected in both the Team and Coach of the Year categories. Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks headline the nominations alongside Philip Snyman’s championship-winning Springbok Sevens team and Kevin Foote’s victorious Junior Springboks. Swys de Bruin also earned recognition after guiding the Springbok Women to their best-ever World Cup performance.
The Springbok Sevens’ HSBC SVNS World Championship victory in Los Angeles is celebrated through nominations for Selvyn Davids, Shilton van Wyk, and Impi Visser in the Men’s Sevens Player category. The Junior Springboks’ world championship triumph is represented by captain Riley Norton, Cheswill Jooste, and Pead in their respective category.
Domestic excellence receives its due recognition through the Carling Currie Cup awards. Suzuki Griquas’ Premier Division success sees Gurshwin Wehr and George Whitehead nominated alongside Sanlam Boland Kavaliers’ Donavan Don. In the First Division, NovaVit Griffons duo Andrew Kota and Willem van den Hever face competition from Valke’s Keagan Fortune.
Rugby supporters can participate in the awards process by voting for the FNB Fans’ Moment of the Year, with six memorable achievements including the Springboks’ Castle Lager Rugby Championship defence, their record victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand, and the various championship victories by South Africa’s national teams.
The nominees were selected by members of the media and national team coaching staff, with winners to be announced in due course alongside the OUTsurance Referee of the Year, Provincial Women’s Player of the Year, Associate Member of the Year, and FNB Fans’ Moment of the Year awards.
The comprehensive nominations underscore what has been a watershed year for South African rugby, with success spanning from senior international level through to age-grade competitions, cementing the nation’s position as a global rugby powerhouse.
Complete list of nominees:
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 / DHL Stormers)
- Ethan Hooker (Springboks / Hollywoodbets Sharks)
- Canan Moodie (Springboks / Vodacom Bulls)
- Haashim Pead (Junior Springboks / Lions)
- Zachary Porthen (Springboks / DHL 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)
Carling Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year
- Donavan Don (Sanlam Boland Kavaliers)
- Gurshwin Wehr (Suzuki Griquas)
- George Whitehead (Suzuki Griquas)
Carling Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year
- Keagan Fortune (Valke)
- Andrew Kota (NovaVit Griffons)
- Willem van den Hever (NovaVit Griffons)
FNB Fans’ Moments of the Year
- The Springboks’ defence of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship title
- The Springbok Women’s best-ever performance at a Rugby World Cup
- The Springboks’ unbeaten run on the Castle Lager 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
- Vote here.
ALSO READ: Marx claims World Rugby Player of the Year as Springboks make history
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