By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
In the most prestigious category of the night, Eben Etzebeth – to the the surprise of arguably no one – walked away with the 2023 SA Rugby men’s player of the year award, becoming only the second player to win the honour back-to-back after Pieter-Steph du Toit did so in 2018 and 2019.
Etzebeth had a stellar 2023 with the Boks and was arguably one of the best players in the world, if not the best lock on the planet.
The 32-year-old Etzebeth, who made his Test debut in 2012, won the main gong in South Africa for a second successive time after consistently high levels of performances as the Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis Cup for a second time in a row in France.
The other finalists were Pieter-Steph du Toit, the first player to win back-to-back awards in 2018 and 2019, as well as Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, Frans Malherbe and Damian Willemse.
Other winners
Springbok wing Canan Moodie also did the double by again walking away with the Young Player of the Year Award, while Libbie Janse van Rensburg cleaned up in the women’s categories by being named Springbok Women and Provincial Player of the Year for 2023.
Janse van Rensburg – the highest international points’ scorer in the history of South African rugby – featured for the Springbok Women in both 15s and sevens last year, and spearheaded the Bulls Daisies’ challenge to win the Women’s Premier Division.
The other nominees were former winners Nadine Roos (2022), Aseza Hele (2019), and Babalwa Latsha (2017), as well as Rights Mkhari, herself an international in 15s and sevens rugby.
Moodie was voted as the Young Player of the Year for a second successive season after another year of stand-out performances for the Springboks and the Bulls, beating challenges from his fellow Boks in Jaden Hendrikse and Evan Roos, as well as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Ruan Venter.
Coach of the Year
Following their triumph in France, Jacques Nienaber and the Springboks won the awards for Coach and Team of the Year, while Ricardo Duarttee was named Springbok Men’s Sevens Player of the Year, and Corné Beets the Junior Springbok Player of the Year.
In a new category, voted for by supporters on social media, Cheslin Kolbe won the SuperSport Fans’ Moment of the Year award for his charge-down of a Thomas Ramos conversion in the RWC quarterfinal against the hosts.
Manie Libbok (Stormers – URC Fans’ Player of the Season), Ruan Pienaar (Cheetahs – Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year) and Cameron Hufke (Boland Kavaliers – Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year) also walked away with awards on the night for their performances at franchise and provincial level.
The award for Associate Member of the Year was re-introduced in 2023 and the SA Deaf Rugby Association (Sadra) were named the deserved winners. South Africa finished fourth in the World Deaf Rugby Championship in Argentina and after an internal audit, Sadra was judged to be well-governed and growing its footprint in South Africa.
Winners
SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year: Eben Etzebeth
Springbok Women’s Player of the Year: Libbie Janse van Rensburg
SA Rugby Young Player of the Year: Canan Moodie (Springboks /Bulls)
Springbok Sevens Men’s Player of the Year: Ricardo Duarttee
Junior Springbok Player of the Year: Corné Beets
Team of the Year: Springboks
Coach of the Year: Jacques Nienaber (Springboks)
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander congratulated all the winners for their contribution to a memorable 2023 season.
“Eben was at the front of the Springboks’ charge to their second Rugby World Cup title [in a row], backed up by the rest of the squad, coaches and management, all of whom deserve recognition for a remarkable season for South African rugby,” said Alexander.
“The 2023 season will be ingrained in our memories for decades to come, with the Springboks setting the tone and doing so much for nation building and social cohesion in South Africa, but all of our national teams did well, and we are proud of all the winners.