Siya Kolisi: Springbok captain wins South African Player of the Year award

South Africa skipper Siya Kolisi has been named SA Rugby’s Player of the Year after a stunning 2021 in which he led the Springboks to a British and Irish Lions series success.

The 30-year-old Kolisi edged out strong challenges from his national team-mates Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Eben Etzebeth and Makazole Mapimpi to become the first Bok captain since Jean de Villiers in 2013 to win the top award.

Kolisi – who was named the Springbok of the Lions series last year and was the only Springbok to play in all 13 Tests in 2021 – led South Africa to a superb series victory over the Lions in August and went on to captain the side under difficult circumstances in the Rugby Championship, which culminated with a nail-biting win over the All Blacks.

Meanwhile, the exciting Aphelele Fassi underlined his great potential by winning the Young Player of the Year award.

Fassi made his Springbok debut in 2021 and although he featured in only two Tests – scoring superb tries on both occasions – he showed that he is one for the future playing with increased maturity at full-back and on the wing.

As a result of showing true grit while spending five months in various bio-secure bubbles in South Africa, Australia and the United Kingdom and delivering some outstanding performances – notably coming from 1-0 down to clinch the Lions series – the Springboks were named Team of the Year for 2021.

In a brand-new category, Lusanda Dumke was named Springbok Women’s Player of the Year, while the Border captain also walked away with the award for Provincial Women’s Player of the Year after leading her side to the Women’s Premier Division title.

Ronald Brown capped a fine debut season for the Blitzboks as he was named Springbok Sevens Player of the