Cheslin Kolbe Wins SA Rugby Player of the Year: A Look at Past Winners
Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe has been named SA Rugby’s Player of the Year, breaking an 11-year streak where only forwards had won the prestigious award. This accolade, which was introduced in 1992, is one of the highest individual honors in South African rugby. It was established when the Springboks returned to international competition following years of isolation due to apartheid.
The selection process for this award involves media members, stakeholders, and key SA Rugby officials, who vote on the most deserving player based on their performances throughout the season.
Backline Players as Award Winners
Despite the fact that backline players typically score the majority of points in rugby matches, only 13 backs have won this award in its 32-year history. Some of the most legendary Springboks have been among those honored, including:
Gavin Johnson (1993)
Chester Williams (1994)
André Joubert (1996)
Breyton Paulse (2000)
Ashwin Willemse (2003)
Bryan Habana (2005, 2007, 2012)
Fourie du Preez (2006, 2009)
Jean de Villiers (2008, 2013)
Kolbe’s 2024 win marks the first time a backline player has claimed the title since De Villiers in 2013.
Dominance of Forwards in the Award’s History
The Springboks have long been known for their powerful forward pack, and this is reflected in the history of the SA Rugby Player of the Year award. Over the past three decades, forwards have claimed the honor 20 times, reinforcing their crucial role in South Africa’s playing style.
The following forwards have been recognized as South Africa’s best over the years:
Tiaan Strauss (1992)
Ruben Kruger (1995)
Os du Randt (1997)
Gary Teichmann (1998)
André Venter (1999)
André Vos (2001)
Joe van Niekerk (2002)
Schalk Burger (2004, 2011)
Gurthrö Steenkamp (2010)
Duane Vermeulen (2014, 2020)
Lood de Jager (2015)
Pieter-Steph du Toit (2016, 2018, 2019)
Malcolm Marx (2017)
Siya Kolisi (2021)
Eben Etzebeth (2022, 2023)
From 2014 to 2023, only forwards were awarded the title, making Kolbe’s win even more significant.
Multiple-Time Winners
Receiving the SA Rugby Player of the Year award is a remarkable achievement, but some players have won the accolade multiple times, showing consistent world-class performances.
Bryan Habana (2005, 2007, 2012) and Pieter-Steph du Toit (2016, 2018, 2019) share the record for the most wins, with three each.
Other multiple-time winners include Schalk Burger (2004, 2011), Fourie du Preez (2006, 2009), Jean de Villiers (2008, 2013), Duane Vermeulen (2014, 2020), and Eben Etzebeth (2022, 2023).
Du Toit and Etzebeth are the only players to have won back-to-back awards.
Complete List of SA Rugby Player of the Year Winners
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
Kolbe’s victory in 2024 is a landmark moment in the history of this award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the Springboks and breaking a long-standing trend favoring forwards.