Announced: BrightRock Players' Choice Awards nominees
The second annual BrightRock Players Choice Awards– for the players, by the players, will recognise South Africa’s favourite rugby players.
Rugby-lovers can block their diaries for the evening of Tuesday, 11 December, when the second annual BrightRock Players Choice Awards will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre.
The awards ceremony will see professional South African rugby players honour and acknowledge their peers for getting their game on over the past season. These nominees were determined by all the players who serve within the structures of local rugby.
The awards – held by the players, for the players – are one of a kind in South Africa.
The players vote to honour their peers in all the categories except one award, the Fan's Choice category. This is where the public rally behind their favourite players and heroes.
Voting takes place on the BrightRick Players’ Choice Awards Facebook Page.
The nominees are:
Defender of the Year
Franco Mostert
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Siya Kolisi
Werner Kok
Best off The Bench (the super-sub)
Akker van der Merwe
Marnus Schoeman
Steven Kitshoff
Zain Davids
#LoveChange Award Change Agent (the guy who went from Zero to Hero)
Aphiwe Dyantyi
Damian Willemse
Lukhanyo Am
Selvyn Davids
Forward of the Year
Kwagga Smith
Malcolm Marx
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Siya Kolisi
Backline Player of the Year
Aphiwe Dyantyi
Damian Willemse
Lukhanyo Am
Zenay Jordaan (Women’s 7s)
Players' Player of the Year:
Aphiwe Dyantyi
Kwagga Smith
Malcolm Marx
Siya Kolisi
The show will be streamed live on Sport24 on Tuesday, 11 December.
According to Elma Smit, sport presenter on Breakfast with Martin Bester and marketing consultant for MyPlayers, this year’s awards will mark her organisation’s 20th year of looking after the interests of South Africa’s professional rugby players.