Kolisi is SA’S Player of the Year while his Boks are named Team of the Year

SIYA Kolisi was named as SA Rugby Player of the Year for 2021, after the Springbok captain garnered the most votes for his performances during the season, while the exciting Aphelele Fassi underlined his great potential by winning the Young Player of the Year award.

The 30-year-old Kolisi edged out strong challenges from his national teammates Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Eben Etzebeth and Makazole Mapimpi to become the first Bok captain since Jean de Villiers in 2013 to win the top award.

Kolisi – who was named the MTN Springbok of the

Castle Lager Lions Series last year and was the only Bok to play in all 13 Tests in 2021 – led South Africa to a superb series victory over the British & Irish Lions in August and went on to captain the side under difficult circumstances in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, which culminated with a nail-biting win over the All Blacks.

Fassi made his international debut in 2021 and although he featured in only two Tests – scoring superb tries on both occasions – he showed that he is one for the future playing with increased maturity at fullback and on the wing. As a result of showing true grit while spending five months in various bio-secure bubbles in South Africa, Australia and the United Kingdom and delivering some outstanding performances – notably coming from 1-0 down to clinch the Castle Lager Lions Series – the Springboks were named Team of the Year for 2021.

In a brand-new category, Lusanda Dumke was named Springbok Women’s Player of the Year, while the Border captain also walked away with the award for Provincial Women’s Player of the Year after leading her side to the Women’s Premier Division title.

Ronald Brown (left) capped a fine debut season for the Blitzboks as he was named Springbok Sevens

Player of the Year, while Henco van Wyk’s performances in the Under-20 International Series saw him walk away with the award for Junior Springbok Player of the Year.

Aimee Barretttheron capped a remarkable season by winning the Outsurance Referee of the Year Award for the second time, after she also walked away with the accolade in 2019.

Another new award, the Castle Lager

Test Try of the Year – which was voted for by supporters on various digital platforms – went to Cheslin Kolbe for his superb and crucial try in the third Test against the British & Irish Lions in Cape Town.

The Vodacom Bulls’ second successive Carling Currie Cup title was reflected as Jake White was named Coach of the Year for the second year running, while their up-andcoming loose forward Elrigh Louw edged out teammate Johan Goosen and co-flanker Evan Roos in the race to Carling Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year.

The award for Carling Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year, which wasn’t contested in 2020, was won by Dylan Maart of the Boland Kavaliers, whose eight tries were the most in the competition last year.

SA Rugby President Mark Alexander, congratulated the winners and applauded their achievements in 2021.

“Siya led from the front as the Springboks completed what was arguably their toughest season – for many reasons – in a very long time,” said Alexander. “Supported very well by Jacques Nienaber and his coaching team, as well as his teammates, Siya showed true leadership under challenging conditions, and he became better as the year progressed, which culminated with a spot in the World Rugby Dream Team for 2021, along with Makazole, Lukhanyo, Eben and Malcolm Marx.