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IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
URC Next-Gen Player of the Season award: Six South African rugby players nominated
Thanks to his breakthrough season at the Bulls, star No 8 Cameron Hanekom received a second United Rugby Championship award nomination this past week. He is up for the Next-Gen Player of the Season accolade, that recognises young talent in the competition, after also being shortlisted for SA URC Player of the Season. Image: BackpagePix Six South African rugby players have been nominated for the coveted Next-Gen Player of the Season award in the United Rugby Championship (URC). They hail from three local franchises: the Bulls, Stormers, and Lions, each fielding two contenders looking to claim this prestigious title for breakthrough talents. Among those vying for the award is promising talent from the Bulls Cameron Hanekom, who with the Stormers' Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and teammate Wilco Louw, earned the honour of being nominated as the SA URC Player of the Season this past week as well. Hanekom has had an outstanding season with the Bulls that saw him make his Springboks debut, and despite some niggles that interrupted parts of his season, the versatile No 8 has continued his upward trajectory. The 23-year-old will play a key role in the Bulls' search for that elusive URC title as they prepare for the play-offs. His local competition for the Next-Gen Player prize includes Loftus Versfeld teammate, prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels, standout Stormers duo André-Hugo Venter (hooker) and Suleiman Hartzenberg (utility back), as well as the Lions' rising backline stars, centre Henco van Wyk and fullback Quan Horn. The Next-Gen Player of the Season award shines a spotlight on emerging players who demonstrate exceptional promise on the field during the season. Eligibility criteria dictate that nominees must be aged 23 or under at the commencement of the tournament and must have earned no more than five international caps before the kick-off. Furthermore, contenders are required to have made at least nine appearances in the URC during the current season, making the competition more rigorous. This year's shortlist features an impressive 16 nominees from various teams. In addition to the six players from South Africa, the list includes six nominees from Wales, two from Scotland, and one each from Ireland and Italy.
The Citizen
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Who are the likely SA URC Player of the Season contenders?
With the URC winding down an SA URC Player of the Season will be named over the coming month. Bulls prop Wilco Louw has been in immense form this season and will likely be one of the front runners for the SA URC Player of the Season award. Picture: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images The 2024-25 United Rugby Championship (URC) season is winding to its conclusion, with the playoffs set to be battled out, and the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers all in the running for the title. A large number of players have impressed for all of South Africa's franchises over their respective campaigns, even for the struggling Lions, and an SA URC Player of the Season will be announced in the coming month. Here are our top nominees for the award, one from each union, and one honourable mention, who will likely be in the running to pick up the prestigious title. Bulls Wilco Louw The heavyweight Bulls front ranker has arguably been the most destructive scrummager in the URC this season. Louw has powered an imperious Bulls pack that has smashed all before them on their way to second on the URC log and a home playoff. He has played in 16 of the Bulls 18 pool games this season, starting 15 of them, and he will be hoping to add another three starts to that tally and lead the Bulls to the final and hopefully the title by the end of the campaign. His form should see him stay firmly in the Bok fold that he returned to last year after a few years out. Honourable mention: Cameron Hanekom It has been another barnstorming season for the young looseforward, after his breakout campaign last season, and if his form is anything to go by, he should be getting plenty of chances to add to the one Springbok cap he picked up last year. Stormers Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu The incredible impact that rising star Feinberg-Mngomezulu has had on the Stormers is shown by him arguably being their best player this season, despite the fact that he missed over half of it due to injury. He missed the start before returning in December, where he suffered three injuries in three games, before being out for another spell. Since making his return in March he has been incredible, picking up two man-of-the-match awards, scored a hattrick against Connacht, and has made the Stormers no10 jersey his own, which will especially please Bok coach Rassie Erasmus. Honourable mention: Evan Roos It has been another top season for the Stormers loooseforward, but one feels his Bok chances may be running out. Since he blew the lights out in the inaugural URC season, he has been in the national fold but unable to establish himself. He needs to take this momentum into the coming international season. Sharks Vincent Tshituka This could end up being his best professional season if utility forward Tshituka can make a sensational step up to the Springboks. He mightily impressed at the Lions before making the switch to the Sharks in 2022, where he has been a strong presence in their setup. This season has seen Tshituka go to the next level, covering lock regularly, impressing at his usual position as flank, and has taken over the captaincy reins when injuries of resting protocols have kept the regular leaders out. His call-up to the second Bok alignment camp is in recognition of that effort, and having finally received his SA ID he now has a chance to make a big step up. Honourable mention: Ethan Hooker The young gun has impressed again, as he did in a breakout campaign for the Sharks last season. His form saw him in the Springbok mix, although he didn't make his debut, but another strong campaign, backed up by him showing some good utility value this season, may be what is needed to get him in the door for his debut. Lions Morne van den Berg It has been a great season personally during a difficult campaign for his team for the Lions scrumhalf and he will hope that his efforts have not gone unnoticed. Van Den Berg has had to be a solid stable feature during a tough time for halfbacks at the union. He has had to play with four different flyhalves regularly over the campaign, after Sanele Nohamba left, he has had to play alongside Kade Wolhuter, Sam Francis and Gianni Lombard. But despite all the turmoil he has consistently impressed, and hopefully he can add to his two Bok caps later this year. Honourable mention: Edwill van der Merwe The departing Lions winger will leave a gaping hole in the team that will be incredibly hard to close. Since arriving from the Stormers in 2021 he has been arguably the Lions most consistent performer, and after another top season leaves for the Sharks on a high. He will also hope to add to his one Bok cap.
