The Springbok trio of Pieter-Steph du Toit, Herschel Jantjies and Dillyn Leyds walked away with the top accolades at the WPRFU awards evening on Tuesday.
World Rugby Player of the Year Du Toit was named Forward of the Year, while scrumhalf Jantjies claimed Back of the Year and the coveted Players’ Player of the Year, with Leyds named Most Valuable Player.
All three players featured prominently for the Stormers this year, with Du Toit going on to be recognised as the best player in the world and Jantjies nominated as World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year, having made a huge impression in his first season after both his Stormers and Springbok debut in 2019.
Lock Salmaan Moerat was WP Most Promising Forward and wing Edwill van der Merwe the Most Promising Back, while flank Nokubonga Siko was named Women’s Player of the Year for her role in the WP Women’s third straight national title.
WP Most Promising U21 Player was Gift Dlamini, with WP Most Promising Back U21 David Kriel and WP U21 Most Promising Forward hooker Schalk Erasmus.
Robbie Fleck, who finished his tenure as Stormers coach this year, received a special award in recognition of his exceptional service to WP Rugby as both player and coach.
WPRFU awards 2019
Most Valuable Player: Dillyn Leyds
Players’ Player: Herschel Jantjies
Best Forward: Pieter-Steph du Toit
Best Back: Herschel Jantjies
WP Most Promising Forward: Salmaan Moerat
WP Most Promising Back: Edwill van der Merwe
Women’s Player of the Year: Nokubonga Siko
Club Rugby Player of the Year: Ruan Laubscher (Durbanville-Bellville)
Club Rugby Sevens Player of the Year: Rosco Syster (Tygerberg)
Schools Player of the Year: Dylan de Leeuw
WP U19 Best Forward: De Wet Marais
WP U19 Best Back: Mnomnbo Zwelendaba
WP U19 Most Promising Player: Ryan van Ster
WP U21 Best Forward: Schalk Erasmus
WP U21 Best Back: David Kriel
WP U21 Most Promising Player: Gift Dlamini
Photo: Mark Tantrum/Getty Images
