South African quartet crack the nod for URC team of the year ... but no Fourie

Stormers captain Steven Kitshoff was among four South African players named in the United Rugby Champion's (URC) team of the year announced on Thursday.

Kitshoff's teammate at the Stormers, Dan du Plessis, Kurt-Lee Arendse of the Bulls and Grant Williams of the Sharks also cracked the nod for the URC Elite XV.

Here is your 22/23 Elite XV ??x3?? @LeinsterRugbyx2?? @TheStormersx2?? @ConnachtRugby x1?? @BenettonRugby x1?? @Scarlets_Rugbyx1?? @MunsterRugbyx1?? @ZebreParmax1?? @SharksRugbyx1?? @EdinburghRugbyx1?? @BlueBullsRugbyx1?? @GlasgowWarriors #URC | #URCAwards

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Kitshoff has led from the front in the Stormers' title defence this season, which will be on the line once more when they face Irish club Connacht at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday (16:00).

Fullback Arendse had another outstanding season this year, although his team crashed out of the competition at the quarter-final stage to the Stormers last week.

Du Plessis, the only one of the quartet not to earn a Springbok cap, meanwhile, has been exemplary in midfield.

Sharks scrumhalf Williams finished his season strongly last week, despite his side exiting Europe in the last eight when they were defeated by Leinster last week.

The one major surprise was that Stormers loose-forward Deon Fourie failed to make the list following another standout season by the seemingly ageless 36-year-old.

Leinster's Scott Penny scooped the openside flanker position in the URC team of the season.