South African Rugby made a triumphant sweep at the 17th South African Sports Awards hosted at Sun City in North West on Sunday.
Double World Cup-winning Springbok captain Siya Kolisi won two awards. He was crowned Sport Star of the Year and the Peopleβs Choice Sport Star of the Year.
Jacques Nienaber was crowned Coach of the Year, while the Springboks claimed the Team of the Year award.
Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth, who was in action for the Sharks in their Challenge Cup semifinal against Clermont over the weekend, won the Sportsman of the Year award.
Meanwhile, Springbok and Stormers playmaker Manie Libbok walked away with the Newcomer of the Year award.
There were also awards for the administrative side of the game with the South African Rugby Union getting the National Federation of the Year award, while President Mark Alexander was honoured with the Sport Administrator of the Year award.
This feat surpassed rugbyβs previous record of five awards in 2022 and stands as the most accolades ever amassed by a single sport in the history of the awards.
Among other notable winners, Kirsten NeuschΓ€fer from Sailing South Africa was named Sportswoman of the Year, and Simone Kruger of the South African Sport Association for the Physically Disabled emerged as Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability.
Mpumelelo Mhlongo, also from the South African Sport Association for the Physically Disabled, claimed the Sportsman of the Year With a Disability award.
In addition, Diketo Gauteng secured the title of Indigenous Games Team of the Year, while the Tug of War 560kg junior menβs team from HoΓ«r Lanbouskool Oakdale and Hlabi Secondary Schoolβs U-19 netball side were honored as School team of the Year and Developing School Team of the Year, respectively.
SA SPORTS AWARDS WINNERS
- Administrator of the Year:Β Mark Alexander (SA Rugby Union)Β
- Sportsman of the Year:Β Eben Etzebeth (Springboks)
- Sportsman of the Year With a Disability:Β Mpumelelo Mhlongo (South African Sport Association for the Physically Disabled)Β
- Sportswoman of the Year:Β Kirsten NeuschΓ€fer (Sailing South Africa)
- Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability:Β Simone Kruger (South African Sport Association for the Physically Disabled, Para Athletics)Β
- Team of the Year:Β Springboks
- Newcomer of the Year:Β Manie Libbok (Springboks)
- Coach of the Year:Β Jacques Nienaber (Spingboks)
- Volunteer of the Year:Β Rebecca Ntsanwisi (Vakhegula Vakhegula)
- Indigenous Games Team of the Year:Β Diketo Gauteng
- National federation of the Year:Β South African Rugby Union
- Recreation Body of the Year:Β Amandla Social Enterpises (WC)
- Sport Photo of Visual Journalist of the Year:Β Samuel Shivambu
- Sport Journalist of the Year:Β Khanyiso Tshwaku
- Sport Star of the Year:Β Siya Kolisi (Springbok captain)
- Peopleβs Choice of the Year:Β Siya Kolisi (Springbok captain)Β
- School team of the Year:Β Hoer Lanbouskool Oakdale β Tug of War 560kg junior menβs team
- Developing School Team of the Year:Β Hlabi Secondary School β Netball U-19 team
- Technical Official of the Year:Β Sean Rapaport (South African Hockey Association)