Vote! Who is your SA Rugby Player of the Year?
Today at 04:05 AM
SPOTLIGHT: After an incredible 2024 Test season, only one Springbok will walk away with the Player of the Year award.
The SA Rugby Awards ceremony takes place on Thursday in Cape Town and some of the biggest names in the country will gather to celebrate and recognise individuals who stood out.
The big question is who will claim the big Award?
The shortlist is nothing short of impressive with Damian De Allende, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Cheslin Kolbe and Ox Nche all nominated for the top gong.
All five have consistently produced good performances in the Green and Gold.
In our final instalment, Rugby365's readers have a chance to vote for their favourite.
It's extremely challenging to predict a winner, but at the end of the day, there can only be one.
So please vote for your favourite in the comment section below…
More about SA Rugby Player of the Year nominees:
Damian De Allende
Born in Cape Town, the 33-year-old currently plays for the Wild Knights in Japan and has been one of the standouts in League One.
He is a centre and was instrumental in the Springboks' back-to-back World Cup (2019 and 2023) success.
The star continued with great form in 2024, helping the Boks secure the Rugby Championship trophy.
His incredible performance made sure he was named in World Rugby's 2024 Dream Team.
Eben Etzebeth
The 33-year-old became the most-capped Springbok, earning his 128th cap for South Africa in a match against Argentina in Nelspruit on September 28.
He surpassed Victor Matfield's record.
He was nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year and is the holder of the SA Rugby Player of the Year title.
He previously won the Award in 2022, which is a testament to his incredible impact on the game.
Cheslin Kolbe
Hailing from Kraaifontein, the 31-year-old is currently plying his trade at Sungoliath in Japan.
Kolbe is a fan favourite in Japan, with thousands of fans flocking to the stadiums to witness the utility back in action.
Just like his teammate Etzebeth, Kolbe was also nominated for the World Rugby Player of the Year award for his performances in 2024.
The two-time World Cup winner is a complete package, showing his versatility – adding line-out throwing to his bulging bag of tricks.
Ox Nche
"Salads don't win scrums."
Nche's catchphrase has taken the world by storm, with retailers all wanting a piece of the Ox.
Known for his scrummaging prowess, the 29-year-old helped the Sharks secure the SA Shield in the United Rugby Championship.
Nche was part of the successful 2023 World Cup squad and was selected for World Rugby's 2024 Dream Team.
Pieter-Steph du Toit
The flank is currently injured and his Japanese team, Verblitz, is certainly missing his presence. They are struggling and find themselves roaming at the bottom of the table.
The double World Cup winner has 86 Springbok caps and is a standout on the global stage.
He is the World Rugby's Men's 15s Player of the Year for 2024, beating Ireland star Caelen Doris and fellow Springbok stars Cheslin Kolbe and Eben Etzebeth for the prize.
He was also crowned World Rugby Player of the Year in 2019 and has been named SA Rugby Player of the Year on three occasions (2016, 2018 and 2019).
