Pieter-Steph du Toit and Malcolm Marx are among the five nominees for the 2018 SA Rugby Player of the Year award.
The Springbok forwards – winners in 2017 (Marx) and 2016 (Du Toit) – are up against their national teammates Aphiwe Dyantyi, who won the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Award last month, Franco Mostert and Handré Pollard.
Marx is also up for Super Rugby Player of the Year, which he will also contest against current and former teammates Dyantyi and Mostert, who is now at Gloucester.
ALSO READ: Marx named players’ Player of the Year
In the category for Young Player of the Year, Springbok lock RG Snyman is up against four backs in Aphelele Fassi, Sbu Nkosi, Embrose Papier and Damian Willemse.
Neil Powell, who coached the Blitzboks to a second consecutive World Rugby Sevens Series title this year, as well as Swys de Bruin and Rassie Erasmus, are up for the Coach of the Year award. The Blitzboks, Lions and Sharks Currie Cup side will contest Team of the Year.
The three Blitzboks who are nominated for the Springbok Sevens Player of the Year award are Werner Kok, Dylan Sage – who was included in the World Rugby Sevens Dream Team – and Ruhan Nel.
Details of the announcement of the winners’ names will be made early in the new season next year. The winners will be announced before the start of the Super Rugby season.
Nominees:
SA Rugby Player of the Year
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Aphiwe Dyantyi
Malcolm Marx
Franco Mostert
Handré Pollard
SA Rugby Young Player of the Year
Aphelele Fassi
Sbu Nkosi
Embrose Papier
RG Snyman
Damian Willemse
Team of the Year
Lions (Super Rugby)
Sharks (Currie Cup)
Blitzboks
Coach of the Year
Swys de Bruin (Lions)
Rassie Erasmus (Springboks)
Neil Powell (Springbok Sevens)
Springbok Sevens Player of the Year
Werner Kok
Ruhan Nel
Dylan Sage
Junior Springbok Player of the Year
Tyrone Green
Salmaan Moerat
Wandisile Simelane
Damian Willemse
Super Rugby Player of the Tournament
Aphiwe Dyantyi (Lions)
Malcolm Marx (Lions)
Franco Mostert (Lions)
Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year
SP Marais (Western Province)
Sergeal Petersen (Western Province)
Akker van der Merwe (Sharks)
Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year
Divan Nel (SWD Eagles)
Anrich Richter (Valke)
Etienne Taljaard (Valke)
Provincial Rugby Challenge Player of the Year
Enver Brandt (Griquas)
Ruwellyn Isbell (Pumas)
Chris Smith (Pumas)
Stefan Ungerer (Pumas)
Photo: SA Rugby
