NOHAMBA, HORN, SCHOEMAN BIG WINNERS AT LIONS AWARD

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   The best of the best were honoured at the 2023/24 Lions Rugby Player awards, closing the curtain on a season which saw the Johannesburg franchise lay the foundation for
 what already has the makings of a fruitful season for Ivan van Rooyen’s men during the opening rounds of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. Having reached three finals on the domestic competition front and winning one of them (the SA Rugby u19 Cup), most
 would regard it a successful season in many aspects, notably producing five Springboks.

Wednesday night’s awards in Sandton were in recognition of the 2023/24 international season, including this years’ junior and senior domestic competitions. Talented tight
 head prop RF Schoeman claimed the Lions Junior Player of the Year award as well as the Breakthrough Player of the year on the domestic front.

“I’m extremely overwhelmed by these recognitions, said the front-rower. Credit must go to the coaches and my teammates who have played a key role in my development this
 season.”

“This is not something I really expected, so I am extremely grateful for these accolades,” he concluded.

Current Vodacom United Rugby Championship Player of the Season, Sanele Nohamba scooped the coveted Player of the Year award for his outstanding performances throughout
 the 2023/24 season, covering both halfback positions during the campaign.

“I’m really honoured to have received this award. The 2023 season was a tough one for us having just missed out on a play-off spot. Personally, this recognition means
 quite a lot to me and motivates me to put in better performances, hopefully resulting in bigger things to come for the team and our fans. We have positioned ourselves to improve in the current season and that is something I’m really looking forward to,” said
 Nohamba.

Other notable winners on the night were Jarod Cairns, who walked away with the Currie Cup Player of the Year, and fullback Quan Horn who bagged the International Backline
 Player of the Year as well as the Players’ Player of the Year, an award voted for by his peers.

Newly capped Springboks Edwill van der Merwe, Morne van den Berg, Quan Horn and Ruan Venter were also recognised for their national achievements. In his absence, former
 Lions player Jordan Hendrikse was also honoured for obtaining senior national colours while at the franchise.

FULL 2023/24 LIONS AWARDS WINNERS

Lions Under 19
Back of the Year: Jason Hugo
Forward of the Year: Lesedi Masimola
** celebrated in 2024 due to the competition season schedule

Lions Under 21
Back of the Year: Bronson Mills
Forward of the Year: Marno Grobbelaar

Overall Junior Player of the Year: RF Schoeman

** celebrated in 2024 due to the competition season schedule

Senior Awards (Domestic)
Back of the Year: Rynhardt Jonker
Forward of the Year: Renzo du Plessis
Breakthrough Player of the Year: RF Schoeman
Player of the Year (Currie Cup): Jarod Cairns
**2024 Carling Currie Cup Competition

Senior Awards (International)
Back of the Year: Quan Horn
Forward of the Year: Francke Horn
International Breakthrough Player of the Year: JC Pretorious
Players’ Player of the Year: Quan Horn
Player of the Year: Sanele Nohamba
** Vodacom URC and EPCR Challenge Cup

National Recognition Awards

Junior Springbok Women (U20)
Jane Mulder
Sindiswa Ngwenya
Sinalo Honono
Thobile Msizazwe

Junior Springboks
Thabang Mphafi
Sibabalwe Mahashe
Hassiem Pead
Reno Hirst
Thurlon Williams
Likhona Finca
Mziwakhe Nkosi (assistant coach)

Springbok Women
Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen
Xoliswa Khuzwayo
Piwokuhle Nyanda

Zimbabwe Sables
Tapiwa Mafura

Springboks
Edwill van der Merwe
Morne van den Berg
Jordan Hendrikse
Ruan Venter
Quan Horn

Special Award
Jaco Kriel Leadership Award: Asenathi Ntlabakanye

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Transvaal Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 30-Mar-2016 Status: Offline Points: 39964	Post Options Post Reply Quote Transvaal Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: NOHAMBA, HORN, SCHOEMAN BIG WINNERS AT LIONS AWARD Posted: 21-Nov-2024 at 8:04am
	The best of the best were honoured at the 2023/24 Lions Rugby Player awards, closing the curtain on a season which saw the Johannesburg franchise lay the foundation for what already has the makings of a fruitful season for Ivan van Rooyen’s men during the opening rounds of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. Having reached three finals on the domestic competition front and winning one of them (the SA Rugby u19 Cup), most would regard it a successful season in many aspects, notably producing five Springboks. Wednesday night’s awards in Sandton were in recognition of the 2023/24 international season, including this years’ junior and senior domestic competitions. Talented tight head prop RF Schoeman claimed the Lions Junior Player of the Year award as well as the Breakthrough Player of the year on the domestic front. “I’m extremely overwhelmed by these recognitions, said the front-rower. Credit must go to the coaches and my teammates who have played a key role in my development this season.” “This is not something I really expected, so I am extremely grateful for these accolades,” he concluded. Current Vodacom United Rugby Championship Player of the Season, Sanele Nohamba scooped the coveted Player of the Year award for his outstanding performances throughout the 2023/24 season, covering both halfback positions during the campaign. “I’m really honoured to have received this award. The 2023 season was a tough one for us having just missed out on a play-off spot. Personally, this recognition means quite a lot to me and motivates me to put in better performances, hopefully resulting in bigger things to come for the team and our fans. We have positioned ourselves to improve in the current season and that is something I’m really looking forward to,” said Nohamba. Other notable winners on the night were Jarod Cairns, who walked away with the Currie Cup Player of the Year, and fullback Quan Horn who bagged the International Backline Player of the Year as well as the Players’ Player of the Year, an award voted for by his peers. Newly capped Springboks Edwill van der Merwe, Morne van den Berg, Quan Horn and Ruan Venter were also recognised for their national achievements. In his absence, former Lions player Jordan Hendrikse was also honoured for obtaining senior national colours while at the franchise. FULL 2023/24 LIONS AWARDS WINNERS Lions Under 19 Back of the Year: Jason Hugo Forward of the Year: Lesedi Masimola celebrated in 2024 due to the competition season schedule Lions Under 21 Back of the Year: Bronson Mills Forward of the Year: Marno Grobbelaar Overall Junior Player of the Year: RF Schoeman celebrated in 2024 due to the competition season schedule Senior Awards (Domestic) Back of the Year: Rynhardt Jonker Forward of the Year: Renzo du Plessis Breakthrough Player of the Year: RF Schoeman Player of the Year (Currie Cup): Jarod Cairns 2024 Carling Currie Cup Competition Senior Awards (International) Back of the Year: Quan Horn Forward of the Year: Francke Horn International Breakthrough Player of the Year: JC Pretorious Players’ Player of the Year: Quan Horn Player of the Year: Sanele Nohamba Vodacom URC and EPCR Challenge Cup National Recognition Awards Junior Springbok Women (U20) Jane Mulder Sindiswa Ngwenya Sinalo Honono Thobile Msizazwe Junior Springboks Thabang Mphafi Sibabalwe Mahashe Hassiem Pead Reno Hirst Thurlon Williams Likhona Finca Mziwakhe Nkosi (assistant coach) Springbok Women Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen Xoliswa Khuzwayo Piwokuhle Nyanda Zimbabwe Sables Tapiwa Mafura Springboks Edwill van der Merwe Morne van den Berg Jordan Hendrikse Ruan Venter Quan Horn Special Award Jaco Kriel Leadership Award: Asenathi Ntlabakanye