The sport’s finest gathered in Cape Town earlier this week to celebrate South African Rugby’s annual awards — and it was an occasion worthy of the best team in the world.
Life after Covid has limited big gala celebrations of success, but gratefully this was not the case on a night of reminiscing and romance.
It was a window to the world of the country’s rugby at its finest and most mesmerising. It was totally apt that the Men’s Player of the Year Award would be the most mesmerising of them all — winger Cheslin Kolbe.
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander shared with me that the decision to put on a show was a late one, and he applauded marketing manager Marlon Kruger for an organisational effort consistent with the very best Springbok defence and attack over the past few years.
Everything was right about the night — from the Castle beer to the glow of a colour coding that screamed green and gold. Forever Green & Forever Gold lit up the room in signage, and it was a reflection on four World Cup gold medals from the green machine.
Sport, arts and culture minister Gayton McKenzie entertained as the guest speaker and his message was short and to the point — the Springboks unite South Africa, even in those darkest moments of load-shedding. The Springboks are the light that shines on this country, and it is no surprise they are the number one sporting brand, officially, in South Africa.
Rassie Erasmus was the obvious choice of Coach of the Year, with the Springboks winning 11 from 13 Tests and adding the Castle Rugby Championship to the 2023 World Cup gold. The Boks were understandably the Team of the Year and Kolbe was a popular choice among his teammates for the big award.
The night of the awards spoke to the memory of the past eight years but, crucially, it also spoke to the now and the intent within the squad to create more history in winning a third successive World Cup in Australia in 2027.
Nadine Roos was confirmed the Women’s Player of the Year, Selvyn Davids took home the Sevens gong, AJ Jacob triumphed in the referee’s category and Jurenzo “Boogieman” Julius got a massive cheer when announced Junior Springbok of the Year, while local star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu won the Young Player of the Year Award.
On the domestic scene, Sanele Nohamba (Lions) won Vodacom URC Player of the Year, Renzo du Plessis (Lions) and Ashlon Davids (Boland) were the Players of the Year in the Currie Cup Premier Division and First Division, respectively, and Jakkie Cillliers (Bulls) won the Provincial Women’s Player of the Year Award.
The KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union got the President’s Award — and rightly so, for being the leaders in transformation and recognition for the Sharks winning the Currie Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup competitions.
I’ve enjoyed some special times with the Springboks, as part of the management, and reporting on them as a rugby journalist since 1992. I’ve also been there for those dark days of the infamous Kamp Staaldraad and the losing to Italy for the first time in 2016; the 57-0 and 57-15 reverses to the All Blacks; the 38-3 defeat in Dublin to Ireland; the 49-0 to Australia in Brisbane; the eight successive defeats to the All Blacks; too many defeats to Wales; and the awful 2002 tour up north, where France won 30-10 in Marseilles, Scotland won 21-6 in Edinburgh, and the 53-3 low against England at Twickenham.
Hell, those were dark and tough times, which made this week even more spectacular, as it served as a reminder of just how much has been achieved since 2018 — which includes two successive World Cup titles, a British & Irish Lions series win and two Rugby Championship titles.
The night spoke to the memory of these past eight years but, crucially, it also spoke to the now and the intent within the squad to create more history in winning a third successive World Cup in Australia in 2027.
It was a privilege to observe and experience. Forever Green; Forever Gold.
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