Lions playmaker Sanele Nohamba has been named the Vodacom URC 2023-24 Player of the Season following a sensational campaign for the Johannesburg-based team.
The award was open to any player from one of the four South African franchises, and forms part of the annual SA Rugby Awards, with the winner determined by votes from the South African media, the four South African franchise coaches, and Springboks head coach, Rassie Erasmus.
Nohamba edged out Vodacom Bulls duo Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cameron Hanekom in winning the coveted award.
The 25-year-old played all 18 regular season games for the Emirates Lions, who just missed out on a spot on the Play-Offs on the final day.
He scored two tries, racking up 117 points in total with 31 conversions, 14 penalties, and one drop-goal slotted over bar.
Nohamba also made 462 metres, with seven try-assists, and 19 defenders beaten in an excellent all-round season.
“Sanele Nohamba has brought such a fresh and exciting element to the Vodacom URC this season and is a thoroughly deserving winner of this award,” said Vodacom South Africa chief executive Sitho Mdlalose.
“His humility and service to his teammates epitomises the spirit of this competition, and indeed Vodacom’s own belief that we can all do so much more if we go Further Together. His triumph is a testament to the skills and character of a player who showed his true potential this season, and who is undoubtedly destined for greatness in the game.”
URC Awards Winners 2023-24:
Tackle Machine: Alessandro Izekor (Benetton)
Turnover King: Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh)
Golden Boot: Chris Smith (Vodacom Bulls)
Top Try Scorer: Johnny Matthews (Glasgow Warriors)
Ironman Award: Shane Daly (Munster)
Next-Gen Player of the Season: Jack Crowley (Munster)
Try of the Season: Aphelele Fassi (Sharks)
Innovation Award: Benetton
Elite XV: Warrick Gelant (DHL Stormers), Jordan Larmour (Leinster), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), Alex Nankivell (Munster), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Jack Crowley (Munster), John Cooney (Ulster), Ox Nche (Sharks), Akker van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Ruan Nortjé (Vodacom Bulls), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls)
Vodacom URC Player of the Season: Sanele Nohamba (Lions)
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/INPHO/Shutterstock/BackpagePix
The post Nohamba named URC’s best appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Playmaker Sanele Nohamba has been named the 2023-24 URC Player of the Season following a sensational campaign for the Lions. @Vodacom #URC
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