The hunt for South African school rugby royalty is reaching its climax as public voting for the prestigious 2026 Ruggas Awards enters its critical final phase. Fans have responded in massive numbers, with an incredible 107,752 votes cast as of Thursday at 19:00 SAST.
The public voting window allows fans to lock in their choices across a variety of hotly contested categories before the countdown concludes on 26 September 2026.
The race for the crown is exceptionally tight across all categories, with passionate school communities driving huge numbers for their local heroes, coaches, teams, and administrators.
Once public voting closes, the top three candidates per category will advance to the final round. An expert panel will then evaluate the finalists to determine the ultimate winners ahead of the official awards evening on 09 October 2026.
School of the Year
The battle for the top rugby school in the country has produced an absolute deadlock at the peak, separated by the narrowest of margins:
* Paarl Gim: 23% (Leading by just 49 votes)
* Stellenberg: 23%
* Paul Roos: 17%
School of the Year (Most Improved)
Rising programs are getting their due recognition, with a tightly grouped top three showcasing incredible growth this season:
* Zwartkop: 21%
* Charlie Hofmeyr: 18%
* Nelspruit: 17%
Coach of the Year
Tactical brilliance and mentorship are under the spotlight in a category that has produced a dead heat at the top of the standings:
* Divan Batt: 22%
* Christiaan Gouws: 22%
* Jannie du Plessis: 20%
Administrator of the Year
The unsung heroes working behind the scenes are locked in one of the closest races of the entire awards lineup:
* Morné Crous: 21%
* Duppie du Preez: 20%
* Reinhardt Gerber: 20%
1stXV Team of the Year
The race for the country's top schoolboy team has turned into a three-way heavyweight battle, with just two percentage points separating first from third:
* Paarl Gim: 25%
* Stellenberg: 24%
* Monnas: 23%
Player of the Year
The boys' flagship individual category remains an absolute thriller, with a razor-thin margin separating the top three nominees:
* Juvan Burden: 18%
* Morné Noble: 17%
* Lamla Mgedezi: 16%
Female Player of the Year
A dominant two-way battle has emerged at the top of the girls' category, establishing a clear gap over the rest of the field:
* Jessie Schoeman: 48%
* Inga Jim: 38%
* Anothando Mdaba: 4%
Most Valuable Player
The MVP standings see high-profile contenders overlapping from other specialist shortlists, making it a true clash of titans:
* Juvan Burden: 25%
* Jaydon Viljoen: 21%
* Jacobus de Villiers: 18%
Forward of the Year
A highly competitive pack is chasing the ultimate prize for front-eight dominance, with one player pulling triple duty across the leaderboards:
* Juvan Burden: 27%
* Jacobus de Villiers: 21%
* Stefan van der Vyfer: 14%
Backline Player of the Year
The race for the best playmaker or finisher is turning into a game of inches, with a single score's worth of percentage separating the top three:
* Ethan van Biljon: 26%
* Lamla Mgedezi: 22%
* Jaydon Viljoen: 21%
LSEN Player of the Year
The LSEN category is proving to be one of the closest groups in the entire competition, with only two percentage points separating first and third:
* Wade Benning: 19%
* Anathi Paul: 18%
* Yusuf Hannibol: 17%
