Hot-stepping Springbok speedster Cheslin Kolbe became the first backline player since 2013 to take the prestigious SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year title at a glittering SA Rugby Awards ceremony at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town on Thursday evening, while Nadine Roos took home the top women’s award for a second time.

Kolbe’s incredible achievements throughout the 2024 season set him apart from an impressive field of nominees, which included previous winners Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit, as well as Damian De Allende and Ox Nche, to claim the top prize.

His contributions played a pivotal role in the Springboks’ triumphant season, which saw the team secure 11 victories in 13 Tests and recapture the Castle Lager Rugby Championship and Freedom Cup titles. Kolbe’s electrifying pace and skill on the field were key to these successes, underscoring his reputation as one of the most dynamic players in world rugby.

As a result, the Springboks and Rassie Erasmus were named Team and Coach of the Year respectively on an evening where excellence across all spheres of South African rugby was celebrated.

The versatile Roos was honoured as SA Rugby Women’s Player of the Year for the second time in three years after also taking the award in 2022, for her outstanding contributions to both the fifteens and sevens formats of the Springbok Women’s game.

Emerging star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu received the Young Player of the Year award, recognising his breakthrough season; Jurenzo Julius was named Junior Springbok Player of the Year for his impressive form for the SA U20s before making a rapid rise in senior rugby; and Selvyn Davids, who was included in World Rugby’s Dream Team, was named the Springbok Sevens Player of the Year, playing a key role as they won bronze at the Olympic Games in Paris.

In domestic rugby, Renzo du Plessis (Fidelity ADT Lions) and Ashlon Davids (Sanlam Boland Cavaliers) were named the Carling Currie Cup Players of the Year for the Premier and First Divisions respectively, adding their names to that of Sanele Nohamba (Emirates Lions), who won the SA Vodacom URC Player of the Season Award for 2024.

Jakkie Cilliers, who topped the scoring charts and helped the Bulls Daisies to a second successive Women’s Premier Division title, was recognized as Provincial Women’s Player of the Year, while AJ Jacobs was named OUTsurance Referee of the Year for his excellent performances on both local and international stages.

For their significant contributions to rugby development, the South African Schools Rugby Association (SASRA) was named Associate Member of the Year, and the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union received the inaugural President’s Award for their exceptional achievements in access to the game, development, governance and performance.

To cap a remarkable year for SA Rugby, the awards ceremony also celebrated a remarkable milestone for the Springbok brand, which was ranked 50^th among the top 100 brands in South Africa, making it the only sports brand to achieve this distinction to date.

Mr Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby, hailed Kolbe’s achievement as a milestone for backline players while he also praised the contributions of all the other award winners.

“Cheslin’s recognition is a testament to his skill, dedication, and impact on the field,” said Mr Alexander.

“It’s amazing to think that the last backline player to win the top award was former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers in 2013, and to have Cheslin take the top prize this year, is just reward for the amazing things he’s done for the Springboks in the last six years.

“He truly embodies the spirit of excellence that defines South African rugby. We are blessed with incredible talent in South African rugby, as evidenced by the accomplishments of national players such as Nadine, Sacha, Jurenzo and Selvyn.

“Cheslin may have led the charge, but everyone involved with the Springboks deserves recognition for one of our best seasons ever, and Rassie’s role in this resurgence from where we were under a decade ago has to be applauded.

Mr Alexander also lauded the other winners for their stellar performances during the 2024 season: “Congratulations also to Sanele Nohamba, Renzo, Ashlon, Jakkie, AJ, the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union – with the Hollywoodbets Sharks winning both the EPCR Challenge Cup and the Carling Currie Cup – and SASRA too, all of you deserve the recognition for your contribution to the game of rugby in South Africa last year.

“As the curtain falls on a successful year, the Springboks and all role players in South African rugby can look ahead with confidence, building on the solid foundation laid in 2024. Best of luck to everyone for the rest of the year – may we build on our achievements in 2025.”

SA Rugby Awards 2024 winners and finalists (where applicable):

SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year: Cheslin Kolbe

Finalists: Damian De Allende, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche

SA Rugby Women’s Player of the Year: Nadine Roos

Finalists: Aseza Hele, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Chumisa Qawe, Vainah Ubisi

SA Rugby Young Player of the Year: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Springboks / DHL Stormers)

Finalists: Cameron Hanekom (Springboks / Vodacom Bulls), Jordan Hendrikse (Springboks / Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Springboks / Emirates Lions), Henco van Wyk (Emirates Lions)

Springbok Sevens Men’s Player of the Year:Selvyn Davids

Finalists: Zain Davids, Ryan Oosthuizen

Junior Springbok Player of the Year: Jurenzo Julius

Finalists: Bathobele Hlekani, JF van Heerden

Team of the Year: Springboks

Finalists: Hollywoodbets Sharks, Springbok Sevens

Coach of the Year: Rassie Erasmus (Springboks)

Finalists: Philip Snyman (Springbok Sevens), Jake White (Vodacom Bulls)

Carling Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year:Renzo du Plessis (Fidelity ADT Lions)

Finalists: Clinton Swart (Airlink Pumas), Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks XV)

Carling Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year:Ashlon Davids (Sanlam Boland Kavaliers)

Finalists: Jayden Bantom (Eastern Province), Thurlow Marsh (Sanlam Boland Kavaliers)

Provincial Women’s Player of the Year:Jakkie Cilliers (Bulls Daisies)

OUTsurance Referee of the Year: AJ Jacobs

President’s Award: KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union

SA Vodacom URC Player of the Season (announced last year): Sanele Nohamba (Emirates Lions)

SA Rugby Associate Member of the Year: SA Schools Rugby Association (SASRA)

SA Rugby Player of the Year winners (since 1992):

1992: Tiaan Strauss

1993: Gavin Johnson

1994: Chester Williams

1995: Ruben Kruger

1996: André Joubert

1997: Os du Randt

1998: Gary Teichmann

1999: André Venter

2000: Breyton Paulse

2001: André Vos

2002: Joe van Niekerk

2003: Ashwin Willemse

2004: Schalk Burger

2005: Bryan Habana

2006: Fourie du Preez

2007: Bryan Habana

2008: Jean de Villiers

2009: Fourie du Preez

2010: Gurthrö Steenkamp

2011: Schalk Burger

2012: Bryan Habana

2013: Jean de Villiers

2014: Duane Vermeulen

2015: Lood de Jager

2016: Pieter-Steph du Toit

2017: Malcolm Marx

2018: Pieter-Steph du Toit

2019: Pieter-Steph du Toit

2020: Duane Vermeulen

2021: Siya Kolisi

2022: Eben Etzebeth

2023: Eben Etzebeth

2024: Cheslin Kolbe

The South African Rugby Union (SARU) resolved on Friday to reject a proposal to accept a potential private equity investment in the sport’s commercial rights.

The proposal failed to reach the 75 percent majority required for such a transaction to be approved. Seven of the 13 member unions with voting rights opposed the proposal.

However, the Ackerley Sports Group – which was identified by the members as the preferred bidder in December 2023 – has an exclusivity period until the end of 2024 to make a revised offer, should it wish.

“The input and perspectives shared by our members have been invaluable, and we respect those perspectives,” said Mr Mark Alexander, president of SARU.

“Our goal remains to secure a sustainable and prosperous future for South African Rugby, ensuring that we continue to grow and succeed on both the national and international stages.

“We remain committed to working transparently and inclusively as we navigate this process. We thank our members for their engagement and feedback and look forward to presenting revised proposals that reflect our collective vision and goals in due course.”

Further advice on the process will be provided as it arises.

The same meeting elected Mary-Ann Musekiwa – a member of the Executive Council - as its female representative to the World Rugby General Council.

SA Rugby has created a new “elite” referees panel to better prepare South African officials to make the step up to international level – which will be overseen by former Test referee Jaco Peyper.

The former “National Panel” has been split into two separate panels – Elite and National – to streamline the way in which match officials are prepared for officiating at international, franchise, provincial or club level.

“The idea behind this is to allow more specific work to be done with the match officials on the different panels, while we’ve also done away with our women’s panel as they are now part of the two new panels” said Banks Yantolo, General Manager of Referees at SA Rugby.

“The six referees and two reserves on the Elite Panel will be mentored by Jaco Peyper, who was a referee in 67 Tests during his career and has valuable insights to share. Another former Test referee and current TMO Marius Jonker will be their coach.

“The National Panel will be guided by Mark Lawrence and Deon van Blommestein, and it’s their task to prepare the next generation of referees for the Elite Panel.”

Yantolo added that SA Rugby’s talent identification programme within the 15 provincial referee societies was also bearing fruit.

“We were able to achieve our objectives of bringing through young and talented referees with a long runway on their side, as they are typically aged between 22 and 26 years old,” he said.

“Six referees were promoted from their provinces onto the National Panel – Charlwen Daries, Excellent Mnkomo, Caleb Hibbert and Juan de Bod, as well as two women’s referees in Siyanda Pikoli and Angie Bezuidenhout.”

The SA Rugby Match Official Panels for 2025 are:

Elite Panel: Christopher Allison, Aimee Barrett-Theron, Griffin Colby, Morne Ferreira, AJ Jacobs, Marius van der Westhuizen.Reserves: Sean Muller, Hanru van Rooyen.

National Panel: Angie Bezuidenhout, Daniel Canhenga, Hernus Coetzee, Charlwen Daries, Juan de Bod, Stephan Geldenhuys, Caleb Hibbert, Cwengile Jadezweni, Jonathan Lottering, Lulutho Matomela, Phumzile Mbewu, Paul Mente, Excellent Mnkomo, Zoe Naude, Dylen November, Siyanda Pikoli, Eon van Zyl, Giana Viljoen.

Television Match Official Panel: Ben Crouse, Christie du Preez, Quinton Immelman, Marius Jonker, Archie Sehlako, Egon Seconds.

SA Rugby has concluded a restructuring process that will ensure greater emphasis on participation at amateur level, as part of a wide-ranging reorganisation, with its impact already felt after changes in coaching teams and the creation of two new fit-for-purpose departments.

The changes are part of a reorganization which focused on the former Rugby and Strategic Performance Management departments, which have now been split into five separate pillars, reporting to the CEO.

Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby, said: “The mandate from our Executive Council was to ring-fence the Springboks and restructure the Rugby Department to ensure it is fit for purpose and capable of optimising the performance of all national teams.

“After thorough engagement and consultations, we’ve completed the reorganisation process with four new workstreams to add to a standalone Springbok department, led by general managers taking responsibility for newly segmented departments in High Performance, Participation and Development, Referees and Medical.”

Dave Wessels, who joined the organisation in March, heads up the new High-Performance Department, which will drive enhanced performance across all national teams and elevate the entire high-performance system.

The former department of Strategic Performance Management has been expanded and is now called Participation and Development under GM Ian Schwartz. It will have a new responsibility for growing the game and building a gender-inclusive pathway and expanding the player base for the future.

Banks Yantolo has been promoted to GM of the new Referees Department, which will focus on growing the base of match officials and ensuring skill development, with an emphasis on high performance as well as inclusivity and gender diversity.

The Medical Department will be headed up by Clint Readhead and will provide specialized attention to player safety, welfare, health, wellness, and safeguarding.

“This new structure is designed to provide increased focus in specific areas and ensure that every aspect of rugby, from player development to health and officiating, receives the focus and expertise it requires to enable success,” said Oberholzer.

“The High-Performance Department includes all national teams apart from the Springboks, as well as operational team services and athletic performance.

“We’re very excited about the Participation and Development Department, which encompasses several key areas, including gender inclusive community rugby development, player and coach development, training and education, transformation, data management, and funding and partnerships.

“Banks and Clint’s promotions were well-deserved as both of them have been with SA Rugby for a very long time. They know the work done in their departments very well which will ensure a smooth transition into this exciting new era.”

After a successful placement process and the reorganisation of the departments, SA Rugby employees have transitioned into their new roles, which kicked off on 1 November.

SA Rugby has postponed a planned Special General Meeting (SGM) to consider a proposal to conclude a private equity investment in the sport’s commercial rights at the request of Mr Gayton McKenzie, the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture.

The meeting was scheduled to take place in Cape Town on Thursday but will now be rescheduled at the Minister’s request to more fully brief government on the proposal.

“We received the request from the minister this morning and we are happy to oblige, having shared the request with our member union presidents,” said Mr Mark Alexander, president of the South African Rugby Union (SARU).

“We had previously briefed him on his appointment, but we understand his request for further assurance considering the newsworthiness of this proposal.”

The Minister said in his letter: “It is always important that levels of consultation and information sharing are adequate in matters such as these, especially when regarding matters of significant public interest.

“I would therefore like to humbly request that tomorrow’s scheduled meeting to decide on the way forward with your members be postponed so that I can be fully apprised of the particulars surrounding this proposed deal, or any deal that may be agreed to through your structures.”

Mr Alexander said: “We look forward to providing any information the Minister may require.

“We believe that the proposed partnership, along with our identified partner, offers an opportunity for organic growth rather than simply serving as a cash injection. Importantly, it ensures that the Springboks will remain under the control and direction of SA Rugby, safeguarding the future of our organisation.”

A new date for the SGM before year-end will only be confirmed after the engagement with the minister.

The membership of the South African Rugby Union (SARU) will be given the opportunity to determine the sport’s commercial future later this month.

A Special General Council (SGC) meeting of the 14 full member unions has been scheduled for Thursday, 17 October, at which a formal offer is planned to be presented for consideration.

If the proposal receives a 75 percent majority of the voting membership, it will trigger the conclusion of an agreement for a private equity company to invest into a newly established company to hold the commercial rights of SA Rugby.

The game’s rugby affairs – such as the management, coaching, contracting and selection of all national teams as well as competition management – will continue to be the responsibility of SARU.

The private investors will take up a 20 percent stake in an SA Rugby commercial rights company, which will manage and be responsible for the sponsorship, broadcasting, eventing, branding and licensing aspects of the sport.

The SGC will be the culmination of months of intense work behind the scenes since the Ackerley Sports Group (ASG) were chosen as the preferred bidder by SARU’s membership in December 2023.

“We are very pleased to have arrived at this point and believe we will be able to table an offer to our members that makes commercial and business sense,” said Rian Oberholzer, the CEO of SA Rugby.

“This is a watershed moment for rugby in South Africa as we attempt to ‘globalise’ the Springbok brand in the way that our peers in New Zealand have.

“Private investment will bring financial security as well as the capital investment and global experience and networks to enhance how we communicate, how we do things and how we interact with our stakeholders.”

A series of information sessions have already been held with members and Oberholzer said that a series of visits to member unions would be undertaken before 17 October to further explain any areas of uncertainty.

“Private investment has taken place in several of our member unions and is commonplace in global sport,” said Oberholzer.

“Our performances on the field have kept us near or at the front of the pack for several years, but we have been lagging off the field. This is our opportunity to catch up with our peers in that arena as well.”

SA Rugby has confirmed key changes to the coaching line-up of its national teams in a bid to emulate the success enjoyed by the Springboks. Experienced former Springbok coaching consultant Swys de Bruin and former Springbok Sevens captain Kevin Foote have been appointed to coach the Springbok Women and Junior Springboks respectively, while Bafana Nhleko has been redeployed from the SA U20s to the senior women’s fifteens team.

Rian Oberholzer, SA Rugby’s CEO, said the changes were part of the restructuring process of SA Rugby’s High-Performance Department as they aim to achieve specific targets as part of a four-year strategic plan.

“We have obviously targeted winning the Rugby World Cup in 2027 for the Springboks, but we also have goals for other national teams,” said Oberholzer.

“We expect to see the Junior Boks winning the World Rugby U20 Championship at least once in a three-year period, for the Springbok Women to climb the world rankings to be in the top eight, and the Blitzboks to consistently medal at major events.”

De Bruin has been appointed as Performance Coach in a new-look Springbok Women coaching team, until the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England in September 2025, along with Nhleko, as well as current Springbok Women assistant coaches Franzel September and Laurian Johannes-Haupt.

Foote will return to South Africa after more than a decade of coaching in Australia, where his most recent position was as head coach of Super Rugby side the Melbourne Rebels.

The Springbok Women are currently ranked 12^th in the world, the Junior Boks finished a seventh in the World Rugby U20 Championship earlier this season while the Blitzboks only qualified for the Olympics through a repechage play-off.

“We expect our national teams to deliver more consistent performances and as such, we started a restructuring process that is part of a significant overhaul of the High-Performance Department,” said Oberholzer.

“The Springboks carry the torch and do very well, but we need to see improvements from all our other national teams, including the Junior Boks, Blitzboks and women's teams.

“As part of this drive,we appointed Dave Wessels as General Manager to oversee the process of restructuring our high-performance teams and these appointments are the first steps in the process.

“Dave joined us in March and has been working hard with all the relevant role players to see where we've fallen short and what we can do to ensure we provide all our national teams with what is necessary to be successful. More appointments will be made in due course.”

On De Bruin’s appointment and the redeployment of Nhleko, Oberholzer said: “We are investing in women's rugby, not only at national level, but in the provincial structures too.

“With the forthcoming WXV 2 tournament and the participation in the Women’s Rugby World Cup next year, we are in a solid position to boost the growth of the game and with the experience and expertise Swys will bring to the coaching ranks, we can expect a boost in on-field performance as well.

“Bafana is an experienced coach and has been with us for more than six years and we feel it’s time to utilise his skills with a senior national team. We have high regard for him as a coach and conversations with him about a move to the women’s game started a while ago. He and Swys know each other well and we’re confident that, along with Laurian and Franzel, they will take our Springbok Women’s team forward.

Oberholzer added: “In feedback we received from within the local coaching ranks, a need for mentors was identified. Having been involved in top level coaching for decades, it’s something that comes naturally to Swys, and is a role he is keen to embrace and he will provide valuable guidance to Bafana, Laurian and Franzel.

“In a way, we are emulating what New Zealand did with Wayne Smith with the Black Ferns, where a key part of his job was to mentor the next generation of coaches. As a part of the restructuring process, more appointments will be made as we look to further invest in, support and develop our coaches.”

De Bruin’s last international involvement was as attack consultant with the Springboks in 2019 and before that, he earned universal respect coaching a variety of teams, including the Emirates Lions in Vodacom Super Rugby and in the Carling Currie Cup.

Foote, meanwhile, will take over the Junior Springbok reins from Nhleko, who was SA U20 head coach for the last four seasons and agreed last year to join SA Rugby’s mobi-unit. Lumumba Currie will remain as SA U20 assistant coach.

“Kevin comes highly recommended having coached at all levels of the game after he hung up his boots,” said Oberholzer.

“Having played for the Blitzboks, he knows what is at stake at international level, and he has gained experience in Australia over the last decade, with the Western Force and the Melbourne Rebels.

“The Junior Springbok programme is a crucial cog in our player development pipeline from school to the senior ranks. We firmly believe Kevin will add something to the side, with Bafana having laid the foundations over the past four years, as is testament by the number of players that have progressed to the Springbok team and those now playing in the Vodacom URC years under his tenure.”

SA Rugby has noted the outcome of the proceedings of an arbitration hearing in respect of the rest periods for contracted provincial rugby players, announced on Monday.

The Arbitrator had been asked to rule in a dispute between SARPA (the South African Rugby Players’ Organisation) and SAREO (the South African Rugby Employers’ Organisation). SA Rugby was named as a second respondent in the case.

SARPA asked the arbitrator to rule on a clause in the players’ collective agreement, which defines the terms and conditions of employment of contracted players. SARPA argued that the terms required provinces to simultaneously rest contracted players for eight concurrent weeks in any 12-month period.

SAREO argued that the collective agreement was being misinterpreted and that the resting period did not provide for a rest period for all contracted players at the same time, nor that such rest period had to be compulsorily taken within a 12-month window.

The Arbitrator, Adv IC Brembridge, SC, agreed with SARPA in a draft award that the rest period for all provincial players must occur at the same time, but ruled that there was not a contractual requirement that such rest period must start no later 12 months from the start of the previous rest period.

An SA Rugby spokesperson said that the organisation was consulting with its members as well as SARPA to consider the fixture scheduling implications of the award.