Springbok player Eben Etzebeth has won the SA Rugby’s Player of the Year for 2022 at the SA Rugby Awards following a string of excellent performances last year.

Etzebeth, who made his Test debut in 2012 and reached his 100th Test against Wales in July earned the award for the first time. He narrowly lost out to Springbok captain Siya Kolisi in 2021.

The OUTsurance Referee of the Year, for a second successive season, is Aimee Barrett-Theron, who represented South Africa at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand

FULL LIST OF 2022 SA RUGBY AWARDS WINNERS

SA Rugby Player of the Year: Eben Etzebeth

Finalists: Lukhanyo Am, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Siya Kolisi, Frans Malherbe

SA Rugby Young Player of the Year: Canan Moodie (Springboks / Vodacom Bulls)

Finalists: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Junior Springboks / South Africa ‘A’ / DHL Stormers), Jaden Hendrikse (Springboks / Cell C Sharks), Evan Roos (Springboks / DHL Stormers), Henco van Wyk (South Africa ‘A’ / Emirates Lions)

Springbok Women’s Player of the Year: Nadine Roos

Finalists: Lusanda Dumke, Aseza Hele, Zintle Mpupha, Aphiwe Ngwevu

Sevens Player of the Year: JC Pretorius

Finalists: Selvyn Davids, Zain Davids

Junior Springbok Player of the Year: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Finalists: Suleiman Hartzenberg, Ruan Venter

Team of the Year: DHL Stormers

Finalists: Airlink Pumas, Springboks

Coach of the Year: John Dobson (DHL Stormers)

Finalists: Jacques Nienaber (Springboks), Jimmy Stonehouse (Airlink Pumas)

Carling Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year: Sebastian de Klerk (Airlink Pumas)

Finalists: Willie Engelbrecht (Airlink Pumas), Devon Williams (Airlink Pumas)

Carling Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year: Jaywinn Juries (Down Touch Griffons)

Finalists: Jaiden Baron (Boland Kavaliers), Duan Pretorius (Down Touch Griffons)

Provincial Women’s Player of the Year: Lusanda Dumke (Border Ladies)

OUTsurance Referee of the Year: Aimee Barrett-Theron

Vodacom United Rugby Championship Player of the Season: Evan Roos (DHL Stormers)

Finalists: Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks), Marcell Coetzee (Vodacom Bulls), Warrick Gelant (DHL Stormers), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Vincent Tshituka

SA RUGBY LAUDS SPRINGBOK LOCK EBEN ETZEBETH

President of SA Rugby, Mark Alexander, congratulated the winners and applauded their achievements.

“Eben has been a Springbok stalwart for more than a decade and it’s just amazing to see how he keeps getting better with age,” he said.

“Playing with maturity and providing valuable leadership to the Springboks,” Alexander.

“The Boks are building on depth and experience with an eye on the Rugby World Cup later this year, and I think they are in a good space under the coaching of Jacques Nienaber and the captaincy of Siya, but Eben’s role can’t be underestimated as he is not only the most experienced member of the squad, but he also sets the example for younger players and was widely regarded as one of the best players on the planet last year.”

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