Former University of the Western Cape (UWC) stars Kurt-Lee Arendse and Herschel Jantjies have both been nominated for top South Africa Rugby Union awards for 2019.
While Jantjies has had a big year, going from virtual unknown to a World Cup winner, Arendse has also been making waves in the Green and Gold for the Blitzboks.
For his performances this year, Jantjies was nominated for the SA Rugby Young Player of the Year award and will compete with fellow Capetonian Damian Willemse and Sharks trio Curwin Bosch, Sbu Nkosi and JJ van der Mescht.
GOLDEN BOY: Selvyn Davids is nominated fro Sevens Player of the Year. Picture: Tony Avelar/EPA.
Arendse, meanwhile, is up for the top gong in the Sevens category and will go toe-to-toe with Selvyn Davids, Werner Kok and captain Siviwe Soyizwapi for the Sevens Player of the Year.
As for the big prize in XVs rugby, the five nominees are World Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit, Cheslin Kolbe, Damian de Allende Makazole Mapimpi and Duane Vermeulen will spook sake uit for the SA Rugby player of the Year award.
List of nominees for SA Rugby Union awards:
- SA Rugby Player of the Year: Damian de Allende, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Cheslin Kolbe, Makazole Mapimpi and Duane Vermeulen.
- SA Rugby Young Player of the Year: Curwin Bosch, Herschel Jantjies, Sbu Nkosi, JJ van der Mescht and Damian Willemse.
- Junior Springbok Player of the Year: Phendulani Buthelezi, Jaden Hendrikse and JJ van der Mescht.
- Springbok Sevens Player of the Year: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Selvyn Davids, Werner Kok and Siviwe Soyizwapi.
- Super Rugby Player of the Tournament: Pieter-Steph du Toit, Handre Pollard and Duane Vermeulen.
- Currie Cup Player of the Year: Joseph Dweba, Tyrone Green and Ruan Pienaar.