Lukhanyo Am scoops SA Players' Player of the Year accolade

Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am has scooped the Men's Fifteens Players' Player of the Year accolade for 2022.

The prestigious award is voted for by the professional rugby players in the country, with Am beating fellow nominees Eben Etzebeth, Malcolm Marx, Evan Roos and Damian Willemse.

"It remains a special award to receive," Am said in a statement. "What makes it great is that it was voted for by my teammates and fellow players. I am honoured.

"This has really been an amazing season for me. I had a good start, and I finished it on a high as well before I got injured.

"Throughout, I felt in good form, and importantly, I felt confident every second I was on the field. For the season that lies ahead, I really hope to take up where I left off."

ANNOUNCEMENT: We know you're not surprised by this, but just act as if you are ... After South Africa's professional rugby players have voted, @Springboks and @SharksRugby magician LUKHANYO AM has been named SA Men's Fifteens Players' Player of the Year for 2022. #MyPlayersAwards pic.twitter.com/pFELEhJAlh

Players' organisaton, MyPlayers, also added two additional categories in 2022, with Zain Davids claiming the Men's Sevens accolade and Nadine Roos elected as the South African Women's Player of the Year.

"Following the 2021 MyPlayers Awards, several players approached us about the format and categories of the annual player-led honours," said Eugene Henning, CEO of MyPlayers. "It was felt that the Blitzboks and Bok Women, sevens and fifteens, didn’t have a fair chance to be recognised beyond categories such as Best off the Bench, Backline Player or Most Improved Player of the Year.

"Subsequently, we retired almost all existing categories and introduced only three Players' Player of the Year