The Ruggas.co.za Awards is celebrating its tenth year of celebrating our brilliant schoolboy rugby stars. The Awards are for the best performances in 2025, and not for future stars after school.
To nominate, click here and send an email to awards2025@ruggas.co.za specifying the category and name of nominated
Following a brilliant season of schoolboy rugby, it is time to reward the top players and administrators that is guiding our youth to successful careers after school.
Schedule
26 August 2025 - 06 September 2025 - The public can nominate their candidates at awards2025@ruggas.co.za. Nominees who received more than 50 nominations will be published and considered by the panel to advance to the Top 10 candidates.
07 September 2025 - Release of Top 10 candidates
12 September 2025 - 19 September 2025 - Public voting
20 September 2025 - Winners will be decided in a blind vote by the panel from the Top 3 voted candidates.
09 October 2025 - Awards ceremony
Categories
Award of Excellence: Awarded to any person who has exceptionally contributed to schoolboy rugby
Nominated: Carl Spilhaus (Jeppe), Cobus van Dyk ( Hoërskool Waterkloof), Eugene Marais (Helpmekaar), Hans Coetzee (Hoërskool Marais Viljoen), Ronnie Uys (DHS).
(2017) Tony Stoops, (2018) Sean Erasmus, (2019) SARLA, (2020) Paul Dobson, (2021) Award Cancelled, (2022) Dries Beetge, (2023) Noel Ingle, (2024) Chris Vorster.
Administrator of the Year: Director/Head of Rugby who steered their school's rugby programme to achieve exceptional results in all age groups.
Nominated: AJ le Roux (Hoërskool Montana), Corne Uys (Paul Roos), Dawie Theron (Paarl Gim), Dirk Odendaal (Menlopark), Hendre Marnitz (Maritzburg College), Naas Botha (Eldoraigne), Naas Olivier (Rustenburg), Neil de Bruin (Paarl Boishaai), Paul Anthony (Pretoria Boys High), Pierre "Duppie" du Preez (Stellenberg), Ruan Jacobs (Affies), Sylvester Booysen (Garsfontein), Willen van der Sandt (Wesvalia),
(2022) Ryno van der Merwe, (2023) Bobby Joubert, (2024) Oloff Berg.
Coach of the Year: The best 1stXV rugby coach in 2025, based on the results of his team and the type of rugby played.
Nominated: Andries Ferreira (Menlopark), Christo van der Nest (Witteberg), Malan du Plessis (Oakdale), Marco Engelbrecht (KES), Peter Engledow (DHS), Pieter Rossouw (Paarl Gim), Ryno Louw (Monument Park High), Roean Bezuidenhout (Welkom Gim), Sean Erasmus (Paarl Boishaai), Stefan “Botter” Lourens (Noordheuwel), Vlos Molnar (Diamantveld), Zander Erasmus (Westville),
(2016) Sean Erasmus, (2017) Sean Erasmus, (2018) Tjaart vd Walt, (2019) Wessel du Plessis, (2020) Pieter Rossouw, (2021) Divan Batt, (2022) Peter Engledow, (2023) Johan "Duppie du Plessis", (2024) Corne Uys.
School of the Year: Best school taking all their teams into account.
Nominated: Affies, Durban High School, Grey College, Hoërskool Montana, Oakdale, Paarl Boishaai, Paarl Gimnasium, Rustenburg.
(2016) Parel Vallei, (2017) Stellenberg, (2018) Monnas, (2019) Grey College, (2020) Afrikaanse Hoer Seunskool, (2021) Garsfontein, (2022) Afrikaanse Hoer Seunskool, (2023) Grey College, (2024) Paul Roos Gimnasium.
Morne Kruger School of the Year (Most Improved): The school that improved its rugby programme to secure better results across all age groups.
Nominated: Hoërskool Montana, Hoërskool Noordheuwel, Hoërskool Menlopark.
(2023) Hoërskool Garsfontein, (2024) Hoërskool Wesvalia.
1stXV Team of the Year: The best 1stXV in the country.
Nominated: Drostdy HTS, Grey College, Middelburg HTS, Paarl Gimnasium 1stXV, Paarl Boishaai 1stXV, Oakdale 1stXV.
(2016) Paarl Boishaai, (2017) Paarl Boishaai, (2018) Grey College, (2019) Grey College, (2020) Garsfontein, (2021) Oakdale, (2022) Grey College, (2023) Grey College, (2024) Paul Roos Gimnasium.
Forward of the Year: The best 1stXV forward of the year.
Nominated: AJ Meyer (Grey College), Clinton Agu (Noordheuwel), Gert Kemp (Paul Roos), Hanro Terblanche (HTS Middleburg) Jayden Joubert (Paarl Boishaai), JG Badenhorst (Grey College), JN van Wyk (Menlopark), Jordan Jooste (Paarl Boishaai), Juvan Burden (Stellenberg), Kai Pratt (Oakdale), Keenan Myners (Outeniqua), Luan van den Berg (Garsfontein), Quintin Potgieter (Paarl Gimnasium), Yannick Mwamba (Monument Park),
(2016) Muller Uys, (2017) Mark Snyman, (2018) Celimpilo Gumede, (2019) Simon Muller, (2020) Rynard Mouton, (2021) Corné Lavanga, (2022) JF van Heerden, (2023) Batho Hlekani, (2024) Kebotile Maake.
Backline Player of the Year: The best 1stXV backline player of the year.
Nominated: Christiaan Vorster (Oakdale), Dylan Stumke (Menlopark), Ethan Adams (Grey College), Haddon Plaatjies (Monument Park), Jordan Steenkamp (Paul Roos), Leskin Samuels (Menlopark), Markus Muller (Paarl Gimnasium), Matthew Abbey (Hoërskool Middelburg), Reinhart Viljoen (Oakdale), Tristan Joubert (Paarl Boishaai), Zekhethelo Siyaya (Westville).
(2016) Damian Willemse, (2017) Abner van Reenen, (2018) Juan Mostert, (2019) Kian Meadon, (2020) Curwin Gertse, (2021) Compion von Ludwig, (2022) Thurlon Williams, (2023) JC Mars, (2024) Luan Giliomee.
Most Valuable Player: The 1stXV player who was a vital part of his team and who had a big influence on the team's performance.
Nominated: Ethan Adams (Grey College), Clinton Agu (Clinton Abu), Gustav Schaffner(Menlopark), Jordan Steenkamp (Paul Roos), Josh Neill (Rondebosch), Junaide Stuart (Garsfontein), Juvan Burden (Stellenberg), Kobus Wilken (Paarl Boishaai), Liyema Nela (Hilton), Markus Muller (Paarl Gimnasium), Patrick Kolonji (Monument Park), Ruben Groenewald (Affies), Yannick Mwamba (Monument Park), Zekhethelo Siyaya (Westville).
(2016) Regardt du Plessis, (2017) Dameon Venter, (2018) Adrian Alberts, (2019) George Cronje, (2020) Hardus Rothman, (2021) Damian Markus, (2022) Gino Cupido, (2023) Tian Vorster, (2024) Luan Olivier.
LSEN Player of the Year: The best LSEN 1stXV player of the year.
Nominated: Ralton Rhode (Jan Kriel).
(2021) Manqoba M Kubeka and Zinidene Whitebooi, (2022) Jamaine Steyn, (2023) Believe Mwabi, (2024) Blessing Kwetle.
Female Player of the Year: The best female 1stXV/U18 player of the year.
Nominated: Davedine March (Boland), Endinalo Fihla (Western Province)
(2023) Anja Le Roux, (2024) Abigail Smit.
Player of the Year: The best 1stXV player of the year.
Nominated: Clinton Agu (Noordheuwel), Darius Erwee (Grey College), Ethan Adams (Grey College), Gert Kemp (Paul Roos), Josh Neill (Rondebosch), Junaide Stuart (Garsfontein), Liyema Nela (Hilton), Markus Muller (Paarl Gimnasium), Reinhart Viljoen (Oakdale), Zekhethelo Siyaya (Westville).
(2016) Embrose Papier, (2017) Cristin v Niekerk, (2018) Evan Roos, (2019) Henco v Wyk, (2020) Reinhardt Ludwig, (2021) Neil le Roux, (2022) Stehan Heymans, (2023) JJ Theron, (2024) Pieter van der Merwe.