Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx capped off fantastic 2025 season when he added the prestigious SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year Award to his World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year accolade, which he received late last year, while Nadine Roos did the double by being named SA Rugby Women’s Player of the Year for a second successive season at the SA Rugby Awards, presented by FNB on Thursday.
Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks were also honoured for a brilliant 2025 season, by taking the awards for Coach and Team of the Year after successfully defending the Castle Lager Rugby Championship title while winning 11 of their 13 tests.
Marx, who was voted the top men’s player in South Africa in 2017, came out on top against four very good finalists in Pieter-Steph du Toit, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ox Nche, and Jasper Wiese. Ethan Hooker walked away with the award for SA Rugby Men’s Young Player of the Year.
Roos was voted the outstanding female player in South Africa in a season where the Springbok Women reached the Rugby World Cup playoffs for the first time. The other finalists were Byrhandré Dolf, Aseza Hele, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, and Babalwa Latsha.
Celebrating the success of women’s rugby, two new awards were added to the roster on Thursday, with Roos also taking the crown as Springbok Women’s Sevens Player of the Year, while Byrhandré Dolf – herself a dual-international – was named as the first winner of the SA Rugby Young Women’s Player of the Year award.
Shilton van Wyk (Springbok Sevens Men’s Player of the Year) and Haashim Pead (Junior Springbok Player of the Year) were also honoured for their brilliant performances in green and gold in 2025.
2025 A YEAR TO REMEMBER
Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby, congratulated the winners for their outstanding contributions to what was arguably the finest year in the history of South African rugby.
“Malcolm led the charge for the Springboks and richly deserves this accolade alongside his World Rugby Player of the Year Award, while Nadine was the spark that ignited the finest season we have ever witnessed from our Springbok Women,” said Alexander.
“The year 2025 will remain etched in our memories for decades to come, thanks to Rassie, Siya and the Springboks. Yet it was not only the senior team that shone—every one of our national sides delivered and we are immensely proud of all the winners.
“Beyond the Bok Women raising the bar to unprecedented heights, the Junior Boks captured the U20 World Championship for the first time since 2012 and the Blitzboks triumphed in the HSBC SVNS World Championship. Together, these achievements made 2025 not only a golden year, but the best year in the history of SA Rugby.
“Our rugby is thriving at franchise, provincial and club level, which bodes well for the season ahead. Congratulations to all the winners and to every team, coach and player across South Africa and the best of luck for the new season – may we continue to spread hope and happiness.”
Faye Mfikwe, Chief Marketing Officer of FNB, SA Rugby’s principal sponsor and presenting partner for the Awards said: “We are honoured to celebrate the remarkable sportsmen and women recognised at this year’s SA Rugby Awards, whose achievements continue to inspire pride across our nation. Their dedication and excellence reflect the very best of South African rugby, and we are proud to stand alongside SA Rugby as a long term partner in advancing the sport from grassroots to greatness.
“Our development partnership has always focused on creating real pathways for young talent, ensuring that every young person in every community has the opportunity to dream, to participate, and to rise. The success highlighted at the Awards this year represents years of hard work that begins on dusty fields, in school competitions, and in community rugby programmes supported through investments such as ours.
“Rugby remains a powerful force for unity, hope and progress. As FNB, we remain committed to strengthening the structures that nurture tomorrow’s champions and to celebrating the heroes who lift the spirit of our nation today.”
DOMESTIC WINNERS
On the domestic front, the DHL Stormers’ Feinberg-Mngomezulu (SA Vodacom URC Player of the Season for 2024/25), Donavan Don of the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers (Carling Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year), Andrew Kota of the Griffons (Carling Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year) and Patience Mokone of the Isuzu Bulls Daisies (Provincial Women’s Player of the Year) walked away with awards.
Aimee Barrett-Theron capped a great season, during which she took charge of the Women’s Rugby World Cup opening game and one of the semifinals, by winning the OUTsurance Referee of the Year Award for the fourth time.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
The Springboks’ record 43-10 victory over the All Blacks in Wellington, New Zealand last year was voted as the FNB Fans’ Moment of the Year, while SA Wheelchair Rugby was named as the Associate Member of the Year.
Erasmus and Kolisi, as well as the recently retired Springbok Women’s captain Nolusindiso Booi, were among a group of six people who received special recognition awards at the Awards.
Kolisi – who was also honoured for this 100th test cap on the November tour – received the Spirit of ’95 Award for his “exceptional contribution in uplifting the game and the nation, through the example of inclusivity and ubuntu, demonstrating iconic and inspirational leadership to the sport and the country, in the footsteps of the example set by Nelson Mandela in 1995”.
The Springbok Legacy Award, recognising the “extraordinary contribution made by an individual to promote and enhance the standing of Springbok rugby as a force on the field and a power off it by promoting excellence and inclusion to inspire social cohesion, and provide a legacy for the game such that it will resonate throughout the history of South Africa”, was awarded to Erasmus, who also reached 50 tests as head coach of the Boks last year, only the second person to achieve this milestone.
Furthermore Booi, who retired after the 2025 season, was honoured for reaching 50 test caps, the first Springbok Women’s player to achieve the feat, while three members of the Springbok management, team manager Charles Wessels (200 tests), assistant coach Mzwandile Stick (100 tests), and technical analyst Lindsay Weyer (100 tests) were also honoured for their achievements.
The prestigious President’s Award was presented to Gavin Varejes, for his contribution to the sport over three decades in many different guises.
His support has extended from grassroots development to rural communities through the creation of the South African Rugby Legends Association, which has done extraordinary work in the game for many years.
“Gavin has financially supported individual athletes in ways that may never be known and when rugby has made the call, he has usually had an answer,” said Mr Alexander.
“Quite simply, he has been the single biggest benefactor to rugby in South Africa for decades, which is why we are delighted to present this token of our undying appreciation to him.”
SA RUGBY AWARDS 2025 WINNERS AND FINALISTS (where applicable):
SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year: Malcolm Marx
Finalists: Pieter-Steph du Toit, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ox Nche, Jasper Wiese
SA Rugby Women’s Player of the Year: Nadine Roos
Finalists: Byrhandré Dolf, Aseza Hele, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Babalwa Latsha
SA Rugby Young Men’s Player of the Year: Ethan Hooker
Finalists: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Canan Moodie, Haashim Pead, Zachary Porthen
SA Rugby Young Women’s Player of the Year: Byrhandré Dolf
Finalists: Patience Mokone, Nombuyekezo Mdliki, Anushka Groenewald
Springbok Men’s Sevens Player of the Year: Shilton van Wyk
Finalists: Selvyn Davids, Impi Visser
Springbok Women’s Sevens Player of the Year: Nadine Roos
Junior Springbok Player of the Year: Haashim Pead
Finalists: Cheswill Jooste, Riley Norton
Team of the Year: Springboks
Finalists: Junior Springboks, Springbok Sevens
Coach of the Year: Rassie Erasmus (Springboks)
Finalists: Swys de Bruin (Springbok Women), Kevin Foote (Junior Springboks), Philip Snyman (Springbok Sevens)
FNB Fans’ Moment of the Year: The Springboks’ record victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand
Carling Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year: Donavan Don (Sanlam Boland Kavaliers)
Finalists: Gurshwin Wehr (Suzuki Griquas), George Whitehead (Suzuki Griquas)
Carling Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year: Andrew Kota (NovaVit Griffons)
Finalists: Keagan Fortune (Valke), Willem van den Hever (NovaVit Griffons)
Provincial Women’s Player of the Year: Patience Mokone (Isuzu Bulls Daisies)
SA Vodacom URC Player of the Season (announced last year): Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers)
OUTsurance Referee of the Year: Aimee Barrett-Theron
President’s Award: Gavin Varejes
Spirit of ’95 Award: Siya Kolisi
Springbok Legacy Award: Rassie Erasmus
SA Rugby Associate Member of the Year: SA Wheelchair Rugby
PREVIOUS WINNERS:
SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year winners (since 1992):
1992: Tiaan Strauss
1993: Gavin Johnson
1994: Chester Williams
1995: Ruben Kruger
1996: André Joubert
1997: Os du Randt
1998: Gary Teichmann
1999: André Venter
2000: Breyton Paulse
2001: André Vos
2002: Joe van Niekerk
2003: Ashwin Willemse
2004: Schalk Burger
2005: Bryan Habana
2006: Fourie du Preez
2007: Bryan Habana
2008: Jean de Villiers
2009: Fourie du Preez
2010: Gurthrö Steenkamp
2011: Schalk Burger
2012: Bryan Habana
2013: Jean de Villiers
2014: Duane Vermeulen
2015: Lood de Jager
2016: Pieter-Steph du Toit
2017: Malcolm Marx
2018: Pieter-Steph du Toit
2019: Pieter-Steph du Toit
2020: Duane Vermeulen
2021: Siya Kolisi
2022: Eben Etzebeth
2023: Eben Etzebeth
2024: Cheslin Kolbe
2025: Malcolm Marx
SA Rugby Women’s Player of the Year winners (since 2004):
2004: Ronwin Kelly
2005: Ingrid Botha
2006: Mandisa Williams
2007: Natasha Hoffmeester
2008: Lorinda Brown
2009: Saloma Booysen
2010: Dolly Mavungwana
2011: Cebisa Kula
2012: Yolanda Meiring
2013: Zenay Jordaan
2014: Fundiswa Plaatjie
2015: Veroeshka Grain
2016: Marithy Pienaar
2017: Babalwa Latsha
2018: Nolusindiso Booi
2019: Aseza Hele
2021: Lusanda Dumke
2022: Nadine Roos
2023: Libbie Janse van Rensburg
2024: Nadine Roos
2025: Nadine Roos
SA Rugby Young Player of the Year winners (since 2001):
2001: Conrad Jantjes
2002: Pedrie Wannenburg
2003: Ashwin Willemse
2004: Bryan Habana
2005: Jongi Nokwe
2006: Pierre Spies
2007: Frans Steyn
2008: Robert Ebersohn
2009: Heinrich Brussow
2010: Elton Jantjies
2011: Pat Lambie
2012: Eben Etzebeth
2013: Eben Etzebeth
2014: Handre Pollard
2015: Jesse Kriel
2016: Malcolm Marx
2017: Malcolm Marx
2018: Sbu Nkosi
2019: Herschel Jantjies
2020: Wandisile Simelane
2021: Aphelele Fassi
2022: Canan Moodie
2023: Canan Moodie
2024: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
2025: Ethan Hooker
Springbok Seven’s Men’s Player of the Year winners (since 2001):
2001: Andre Pretorius
2002: Brent Russell
2003: Marius Schoeman
2004: Kabamba Floors
2005: Stefan Basson
2006: Stefan Basson
2007: Mzwandile Stick
2008: Renfred Dazel
2009: Frankie Horne
2010: Kyle Brown
2011: Cecil Afrika
2012: Cecil Afrika
2013: Cornal Hendricks
2014: Seabelo Senatla
2015: Werner Kok
2016: Seabelo Senatla
2017: Rosko Specman
2018: Dylan Sage
2019: Siviwe Soyizwapi
2020: Stedman Gans
2021: Ronald Brown
2022: JC Pretorius
2023: Ricardo Duarttee
2024: Selvyn Davids
2025: Shilton van Wyk