DHL Stormers wing Leolin Zas scored 11 tries over the course of the regular season to end the campaign at the top of the charts of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
Zas held on to his position at the top of the try-scoring charts in the face of some late competition from Benetton’s Rhyno Smith.
Smith claimed seven tries in his last three appearances to pull level with Zas on 10 at the summit.
However, Zas – who scored at least one try in each of his first six outings – grabbed the DHL Stormers’ first try in their Round 18 victory over the Scarlets to nudge back in front and claim the prize.
Marcell Coetzee (Vodacom Bulls) and Seabelo Senatla (DHL Stormers) finished joint third on nine, with Edwill van der Merwe (Emirates Lions), Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls) and Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets) another try further back.
Zas is the first South African winner to be announced as part of the end-of-season awards, with Ulster’s Alan O’Connor (Tackle Machine) and Ospreys pair Jac Morgan (Turnover King) and Gareth Anscombe (Gilbert Golden Boot) having scooped the three accolades already handed out.
The Dream Team and the Next-Gen Star of the Season will all be announced later this week while Vodacom Fans’ Player of the Season, Loch Lomond Coach of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season will be crowned in the build-up to the Grand Final.