The battle for South Africa’s most prestigious domestic rugby honor has narrowed to three exceptional talents, as the Vodacom United Rugby Championship revealed its shortlist for the Player of the Season award today.
DHL Stormers’ attacking virtuoso Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will compete against Vodacom Bulls powerhouse duo Cameron Hanekom and Wilco Louw for the coveted accolade, following a season of outstanding performances from all three players.
The nominations come as little surprise to rugby fans who have witnessed the trio’s impact throughout the campaign, with each player having recently attended the Springboks’ alignment camp in Cape Town—signaling their potential involvement in upcoming international fixtures.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu has established himself as the Stormers’ offensive catalyst, demonstrating remarkable versatility and finishing the regular season joint-fifth in the competition’s overall points scoring charts. His creativity and execution under pressure have been instrumental in the Cape Town outfit’s attacking flair.
Bulls’ dynamic forward Hanekom has delivered a masterclass in modern back-row play, leading his teammates in several crucial statistical categories. His ability to beat defenders, secure turnovers, and make bone-crunching tackles has been complemented by his fifth-place ranking in offloads across the entire competition.
Completing the shortlist is tight-head prop Wilco Louw, whose return to Springbok colors last year after a two-year absence has been matched by his dominance at club level. Louw has anchored the Bulls’ scrum—statistically the competition’s strongest—providing the platform for his team’s success throughout the campaign.
The voting process, which concluded on Friday, involved input from Springbok coaching staff, representatives from all four South African franchises, and media members. In total, 17 players from across South Africa’s URC teams received votes, highlighting the depth of talent in the country’s professional ranks.
Rugby fans will need to wait until Thursday, 5 June, for the winner’s announcement, which will form part of the annual Vodacom URC Awards ceremony. Several other South African players remain in contention for individual honors at the event.
