Ruggas.co.za emails were flooded on day one with nominations for the 2023 Ruggas.co.za Awards. It is important to note that we will only place a nomination following 100 emails received on the website.
View All Nominations (Click here)
The category - Administrator Of The Year - was introduced in 2022. These are the gentleman that is normally not seen much, however, they are responsible for the managing of the rugby program of the school. The nomination of Bobbie Joubert of Grey College is no surprise taking into account the dominance of Grey College of schoolboy rugby. Hendre Marnitz was appointed at Maritzburg College in late 2022 and although this gentleman will never claim the success of Maritzburg College's rugby, the "new" Maritzburg College is admired across South Africa.
Rudi Dames' success as 1stXV coach at EG Jansen is seen by many as the surprise of 2023. EG Jansen played in the NoordVaal Cup's final and beat Monnas, Drostdy HTS and Welkom Gim. The draw against Hartpury College from the UK at the kearsney Rugby Festival was an early warning of what was to come in 2023.
School of the Year (most Improved) - Hoërskool Die Anker is the product of the amalgamation of two Brakpan schools namely Hoërskool Hoogland and HoërTegnieseSkool Brakpan in 2006. Both these schools were proud rugby schools in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s and they were able to hold their own in the rugby community of that time. Dwindling numbers combined with emerging super schools made it difficult for schools like Die Anker and demanded extra effort from everybody involved with rugby at a school like Die Anker. Die Anker won the 1stXV Noordvaal Bowl Division while they lost 03-15 in the u/14A final.
The nomination of Boland Landbou 1stXV as the team of the year was no surprise. Big wins against Paarl Boishaai, Paul Roos, Grey High and Oakdale were definitely the highlights of a stellar season. Boland Landbou lost only three matches of the sixteen played in 2023.
The quality of the players nominated is surely going to add several more names making life extremely difficult for the voters who hopefully will not let their heart vote.
New Nominations
2) Administrator Of The Year
Bobbie Joubert (Grey College)
Hendre Marnitz (Maritzburg College)
3) Coach of the Year
Rudi Dames (EG Jansen)
4) School of the Year (most Improved)
Die Anker
5) School of the Year
Grey College
Paarl Gimnasium
6) Team of the Year (1stXV)
Boland Landbou 1stXV
7) Most Valuable Player Of The Year
Divan Fuller (Paarl Boishaai)
8) Forward of the Year
Danio Botha (Paarl Gim)
Jaco Grobbelaar (Fichardt Park)
9) Backline Player Of The Year
Janco Purchase (Affies)
JC Mars (Paarl Boishaai)
12) Player of the Year
Hashim Pead (Bishops)
Kyle Smith (Paarl Gimnasium)
