Eben Emerges as the Leading Contender for the Men’s Player of the Year Award

Eben Etzebeth stands as the frontrunner among the five nominees for the SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year Award in 2023.

The list of nominees for the SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year Award for 2023 includes five members of the triumphant Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok squad in France: Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Frans Malherbe, and Damian Willemse. Etzebeth, the defending champion from the previous season, aims to secure the title once again.

SA Rugby disclosed the nominees for nine categories on Tuesday, as determined by votes from media members and influential figures within the governing body. The winners will be revealed early next year, along with accolades such as the OUTsurance Referee of the Year and the Provincial Women’s Player of the Year.

Etzebeth faces stiff competition from Kolisi and Du Toit, previous recipients of the Player of the Year Awards in 2021 and 2019 respectively. Additionally, Bok scrum anchor Malherbe and Willemse, a former nominee in the Young Player of the Year (U23) category and the recipient of the Youth Weeks Player of the Year Award in 2016, add further depth to the competition.

Nadine Roos is set to defend her title as the Springbok Women’s Player of the Year, contending against past winners Aseza Hele and Babalwa Latsha, along with Libbie Janse van Rensburg and Rights Mkhari.

For the Young Player of the Year Award, four of the five nominees featured on the shortlist last year, with Canan Moodie emerging victorious. This year, Ruan Venter joins the list of nominees.

Here are the nominees in alphabetical order:

SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year