SA Rugby Player of the Year

The SA Rugby Player of the Year is awarded annually to honour the South Africa's outstanding rugby union player of the year.

List of winners

Year SA Player of the Year 2024 [1] Cheslin Kolbe 2023 [2] Eben Etzebeth 2022 [3] Eben Etzebeth 2021 [4] Siya Kolisi 2020 Duane Vermeulen 2019 Pieter-Steph du Toit 2018 Pieter-Steph du Toit 2017 Malcolm Marx 2016 Pieter-Steph du Toit 2015 Lood de Jager 2014 Duane Vermeulen 2013 Jean de Villiers 2012 Bryan Habana 2011 Schalk Burger 2010 Gurthro Steenkamp 2009 Fourie du Preez 2008 Jean de Villiers 2007 Bryan Habana 2006 Fourie du Preez 2005 Bryan Habana 2004 Schalk Burger 2003 Ashwin Willemse 2002 Joe van Niekerk 2001 André Vos

Year SA Player of the Year 2000 Breyton Paulse 1999 André Venter 1998 Gary Teichmann 1997 Os du Randt 1996 André Joubert 1995 Ruben Kruger 1994 Chester Williams 1993 Gavin Johnson 1992 Tiaan Strauss 1991 Uli Schmidt 1990 Uli Schmidt 1989 Johan Heunis 1988 Calla Scholtz 1987 Naas Botha 1986 Jannie Breedt 1985 Naas Botha 1984 Danie Gerber 1983 Hennie Bekker 1982 Divan Serfontein 1981 Naas Botha 1980 Gysie Pienaar 1979 Naas Botha 1978 Thys Lourens 1977 Moaner van Heerden

Multiple winners

• 4 times:

1979, 1981, 1985, 1987 - Naas Botha

• 3 times:

2005, 2007, 2012 - Bryan Habana

2016, 2018, 2019 - Pieter-Steph du Toit

• 2 times:

1990, 1991 - Uli Schmidt

2004, 2011 - Schalk Burger

2006, 2009 - Fourie du Preez

2008, 2013 - Jean de Villiers

2014, 2020 - Duane Vermeulen

2022, 2023 - Eben Etzebeth

Notable absences

• Joost van der Westhuizen - Nominee 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999
• Victor Matfield - Nominee 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
• Damian de Allende - Nominee 2015, 2019, 2021, 2024
• Bakkies Botha - Nominee 2003, 2004, 2005
• Bismarck du Plessis - Nominee 2008, 2011, 2013
• Percy Montgomery - Nominee 1997, 2007
• Francois Pienaar - Nominee 1993, 1995
• Willie le Roux - Nominee 2013, 2014
• Handré Pollard - Nominee 2014, 2018
• Makazole Mapimpi - Nominee 2019, 2021
• Joel Stransky - Nominee 1990, 1995
• Juan Smith - Nominee 2003, 2007
• Lukhanyo Am - Nominee 2021, 2022
• Morné Steyn - Nominee 2009
• Henry Honiball - Nominee 1996
• John Smit - Nominee 2009
• Pierre Spies - Nominee 2006
• Mark Andrews - Nominee 1994
• Rassie Erasmus - Nominee 2000
• Pieter Rossouw - Nominee 1997
• James Small - Nominee 1993
• Tendai Mtawarira - Nominee 2008
• Francois Steyn - Nominee 2020
• Jaque Fourie
• Faf de Klerk

References

1. Kolbe, Roos step up to clinch top SA Rugby Awards
2. Etzebeth makes it a double at SA Rugby Awards '23
3. Etzebeth named SA Rugby Player of the Year for '22
4. Siya Kolisi scoops top SA Rugby Award for 2021

External links

• PHOTO ESSAY: SA Rugby POTY award winners list (1994-2022), The South African.
• All South Africa’s Player of the Year award winners for the past 32 years, Planet Rugby.