The Springboks and SA Rugby were crowned as the best sports team and best sports federation in South Africa, respectively, at the annual SA Sports Awards.
The SA Sports Awards, hosted annually by the South African Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, recognises sports individuals, teams and administrators for their outstanding contributions on and off the field.
The awards covered the period from 1 September 2022 to 31 December 2023, during which time the Springboks won a second successive Rugby World Cup.
RUGBY WINS RECORD-BREAKING NUMBER OF AWARDS
The Springboks scooped the Team of the Year prize, while its World Cup-winning boss Jacques Nienaber won the Coach of the Year gong.
Additionally, the Springboks’ Manie Libbok, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi were also honoured with individual awards for their contributions to South Africa’s fairytale-like World Cup triumph last October.
Libbok was named the Newcomer of the Year, Etzebeth won the Sportsman of the Year award, and Kolisi took home both the People’s Choice award and the Sports Star of the Year award.
SA Rugby was crowned as the Federation of the Year and its President, Mark Alexander, was named the Sports Administrator of the Year.
The eight awards exceeded rugby’s previous best showing (five awards in 2022) and is believed to be the most collected by a single sport in the history of the 17-year-old awards.
SPRINGBOKS AND SA RUGBY THANKFUL FOR RECOGNITION
“We are greatly appreciative of the honours bestowed on our sport by the judges and the people of South Africa,” said SA Rugby CEO, Rian Oberholzer, who was in attendance to collect the Federation of the Year Award on behalf of rugby.
“Rugby has worked hard over a long period to reach this point and we are now fortunate to be enjoying a golden age, and these awards are a reward for all that hard work, dedication and passion that are daily poured into the sport at every level – from the school fields to the provincial unions and of course at the Springbok level.
“These trophies are collected by individuals on the night, but I hope that everyone involved in rugby knows that these are their awards as well. It is a happy and humbling occasion for our sport.”
“Siya, Eben and Manie richly deserve their awards, but I know they will be the first to say that they could not have achieved what they have without their team-mates, their coaches and the people who have made sacrifices to help them on their way,” said Oberholzer.
“In the same way the coach of the year award is a tribute to the entire Springbok coaching team.
“Rugby is very lucky to have such ambassadors and role models among its players and leaders and they deserve all the plaudits they receive.”
The full list of awards won by rugby was:
- Federation of the Year – SA Rugby
- Sports Administrator of the Year – Mark Alexander (SA Rugby president)
- Team of the Year – Springboks
- Newcomer of the Year – Manie Libbok
- Coach of the Year – Jacques Nienaber
- Sportsman of the Year – Eben Etzebeth
- People’s Choice Award – Siya Kolisi
- Sports Star of the Year – Siya Kolisi