Eben Etzebeth scoops top SA Rugby award as Stormers, Dobson honoured

Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth was on Tuesday named SA Rugby's Player of the Year for 2022 following a string of superb performances with the national team.

Etzebeth earned the prestigious award for the first time after losing out to Springbok captain Siya Kolisi last year.

Last July, Etzebeth notched up his 100th Test against Wales and was a constant star in the green and gold, along with fellow nominees for the top award in Kolisi, Lukhanyo Am, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Frans Malherbe.

Meanwhile, Nadine Roos was named Springbok Women's Player of the Year and Canan Moodie won the Young Player of the Year award.

Hard-working forward JC Pretorius won the award for Springbok Sevens Player of the Year during a season in which the Blitzboks won four tournaments and just missed out on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title.

The Stormers, who won the inaugural United Rugby Championship (URC) last year, was voted as Team of the Year, with John Dobson taking the Coach of the Year award.

The winners and finalists (where applicable) for 2022 are:

SA Rugby Player of the Year: Eben Etzebeth

Finalists: Lukhanyo Am, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Siya Kolisi, Frans Malherbe

SA Rugby Young Player of the Year: Canan Moodie (Springboks / Vodacom Bulls)

Finalists: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Junior Springboks / South Africa 'A' / Stormers), Jaden Hendrikse (Springboks / Sharks), Evan Roos (Springboks / Stormers), Henco van Wyk (South Africa 'A' / Emirates Lions)

Springbok Women's Player of the Year: Nadine Roos

Finalists: Lusanda Dumke, Aseza Hele, Zintle Mpupha, Aphiwe Ngwevu

Springbok Sevens Player of the Year: JC Pretorius

Finalists: Selvyn Davids, Zain Davids

Junior Springbok Player of the Year: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Finalists: Suleiman Hartzenberg, Ruan