Three South Africans have been recognised for their outstanding contributions during the 2025-26 Vodacom URC season.
Chris Smith, Quan Horn and Evan Roos were among the first batch of award winners announced by the URC ahead of the semi-finals.
Lions flyhalf Smith claimed the Golden Boot award after finishing as the competition’s leading point-scorer during the regular season with 149, including 49 conversions and 17 penalties.
It was the second time Smith won the award after previously doing so with the Bulls in 2024.
“You do really have to put the work in,” Smith said. “It’s a daily work-on and you have to focus on the small things and the detail to be able to kick at a good percentage.”
Smith also praised Lions kicking coach Morné Steyn.
“You honestly couldn’t have a much better mentor,” he said.
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Meanwhile, Lions fullback Horn secured the Ironman award after playing every single minute of the regular season – a remarkable 1,440 across 18 matches.
“As a player, being part of the match 23 ignites confidence knowing you are backed week in and week out,” Horn said.
Stormers No 8 Roos won the Top Try Scorer award after crossing 12 times during the league stage.
Stormers director of rugby John Dobson hailed Roos’ old-school approach to the game.
“He’s just a kid who enjoys rugby,” Dobson said. “He just wants the ball in his hands, he wants to play, he wants to tackle people.”
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Roos said he was simply enjoying his rugby.
“The tries are just a nice bonus for me,” he said.
The other awards announced saw Dragons lock Ben Carter win the Tackle Machine prize for the best tackle success rate among players with more than 150 tackles (97.6%), while Ospreys flyhalf Jack Walsh collected the Playmaker award after impressing with his try assists, offloads and defenders beaten during the season.
Photo: Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images
The post SA trio win URC awards appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Three South Africans have been recognised for their outstanding contributions during the 2025-26 Vodacom URC season.
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