By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Caption: Bulls scrumhalf Embrose Papier (Left) and Johan Ackermann (Right) head coach of Bulls, Image: SA Rugby.
The Vodacom Bulls scrumhalf Embrose Papier’s outstanding season has been recognised with one of South African rugby’s biggest individual honours.
Papier was named SA URC Player for helping drive the Bulls into the semi-finals.
His selection was determined by votes from the Springbok coaching team, the four franchise coaches and selected South African broadcast commentators.
Winners from the previous seasons are Evan Roos, Manie Libbok, Sanele Nohamba, and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Papier scored nine tries in the regular league campaign, plus two more during a Player of Match display in the quarter-final victory over Munster, while he has also delivered five assists, beaten 25 defenders and made 15 clean breaks.
The Western Cape-born scrumhalf, who was called up to the recent Springbok alignment camp, was just 21 when he made his Test debut against Wales in 2018. He went on to win seven caps during that year.
“I just kept working,” said Papier.
“I knew I could still do it. It was just little things I had to work on. I have become a lot calmer over the years and started making better decisions on the field.”
“In the past, I used to just pass a lot and see what happens. But now I analyse teams.”
“The more experience you gain, the better decisions you make. You can see when the forwards are going forward or being tackled backwards, then you know when to make the ball slow or fast.”
Be sure to follow all the URC Awards announcements using the hashtag #URCAwards.
Click here to view the URC Hall of Fame for all past winners
URC Awards Winners 2025-26
Gilbert Golden Boot: Chris Smith (Fidelity SecureDrive Lions)
IPVanish Tackle Machine: Ben Carter (Dragons RFC)
Ironman: Quan Horn (Fidelity SecureDrive Lions)
OFX Top Try Scorer: Evan Roos (DHL Stormers)
Playmaker: Jack Walsh (Ospreys)
Next-Gen Player of the Season: Tom Bowen (Cardiff)
SA Vodacom URC Player of the Season: Embrose Papier (Vodacom Bulls)
Innovation Award: Vodacom Bulls
Try of the Season, powered by URC.tv: Angus Bell (Ulster).
Meanwhile Bulls and DHL Stormers will go full tilt this weekend to progress to the VURC final and in the process, uphold a proud tradition of at least one of these two South African powerhouses reaching the decider since the inception of the competition in the 2021/22 season.
Bulls will be first into the fray, taking on the Glasgow Warriors in Edinburgh at 15h30, before the DHL Stormers go head-to-head with defending champions Leinster in Dublin at 18h30.