Springboks superstar misses out as SA Rugby Awards 2025 nominees confirmed

A number of Springboks have returned as SA Rugby confirmed the full list of nominees for this year’s 2025 SA Rugby Awards.

World Rugby’s player of the yeMalcolm Marx headlines a strong returning Springbok presence among the nominees, with the hooker shortlisted for Men’s Player of the Year alongside international team-mates Pieter-Steph du Toit, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ox Nche and Jasper Wiese.

SA Rugby confirmed the nominees across nine categories on Friday, with voting conducted by media representatives and national team coaching staff. Winners will be announced at a later date, along with a number of additional honours including Referee of the Year and Fans’ Moment of the Year.

Marx is joined by former SA Rugby winner du Toit, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Nche and Wiese complete the shortlist following standout international seasons.

Notably, there is no place for Springboks superstar Cheslin Kolbe.

In the women’s category, last year’s winner Nadine Roos is again nominated alongside Aseza Hele, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Babalwa Latsha and Byrhandré Dolf, all of whom featured prominently as South Africa reached the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu is also nominated for Young Player of the Year, alongside Ethan Hooker, Canan Moodie, Zachary Porthen and Junior Springbok Haashim Pead. Pead is additionally shortlisted for Junior Springbok Player of the Year.

South Africa’s national teams dominate the coach and team categories, reflecting a year of success across the Springboks, Junior Springboks and Springbok Sevens, while domestic form is recognised through the Carling Currie Cup nominations in both divisions.

SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Malcolm Marx
Ox Nche
Jasper Wiese

SA Rugby Women’s Player of the Year
Byrhandré Dolf
Aseza Hele
Libbie Janse van Rensburg
Babalwa Latsha
Nadine Roos

SA Rugby Young Player of the Year
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Ethan Hooker
Canan Moodie
Haashim Pead
Zachary Porthen

Springbok Sevens Men’s Player of the Year
Selvyn Davids
Shilton van Wyk
Impi Visser

Junior Springbok Player of the Year
Cheswill Jooste
Riley Norton
Haashim Pead

Team of the Year
Junior Springboks
Springboks
Springbok Sevens

Coach of the Year
Swys de Bruin
Rassie Erasmus
Kevin Foote
Philip Snyman

Carling Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year
Donavan Don
Gurshwin Wehr
George Whitehead

Carling Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year
Keagan Fortune
Andrew Kota
Willem van den Hever

FNB Fans’ Moments of the Year – VOTE NOW!
The Springboks’ defence of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship title
The Springbok Women’s best-ever performance at a Rugby World Cup
The Springboks’ unbeaten run on the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour in November
The Junior Springboks winning the World Rugby U20 Championship
The Springboks’ record victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand
The Springbok Sevens winning the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles