Burger named Player of the Year
Brad Morgan
3 November 2004
He's a monster on the field - referred to by some as "The Incredible Schalk" - and he's also South Africa's rugby player of the year. Schalk Burger, after a string of sensational showings for the Springboks, the Stormers and Western Province, was named the 2004 Absa SA Rugby Player of the Year in Sandton on Monday night.
The fiery, blonde-haired flanker, who was nominated in three categories - Absa SA Rugby Player of the Year, Sasol Most Promising Player and Vodacom Rugby Super 12 Player of the Tournament - garnered the honour ahead of De Wet Barry, Marius Joubert, Bakkies Botha and Os du Randt.
Previous winners of the award include Ashwin Willemse, Joe van Niekerk, Andre Vos, Breyton Paulse and Andre Venter.
Crowd and player favourite
Springbok prop Os du Randt is a favourite of crowds all around South Africa. It seems he is also well liked and respected by his fellow professionals too; the Free State
Cheetahs' star was selected the Players' Player of the Year after making a highly successful return to Test rugby.
The Sasol Most Promising Player of the Year Award went to Springbok centre Bryan Habana. The pacy Lions' centre, who will play for the Blue Bulls next season, crossed for 10 tries in the Currie Cup, showing off an electrifying burst and a great eye for the gap. He was nominated in three categories - Sasol Most Promising Player, Absa Currie Cup Player of the Tournament and Vodacom Cup Player of the Tournament.
Ettienne Botha recognised
Ettienne Botha, after a consistently brilliant season in the Currie Cup that netted him 18 tries, was controversially left out of the Springboks' end of season tour of the United Kingdom and Argentina. However, his fine performances were recognised when he picked up the Currie Cup Player of the Year Award for 2004.
De Wet Barry cracked the nod for the Super 12 Player of the Year Award, while
the Lions' flying winger John Daniels was honoured as the Vodacom Cup Player of the Year.
Most significant try
The Supersport Try of the Year went to the most significant try scored in South African rugby this past season - lock Victor Matfield's Tri-Nations clincher against Australia's Wallabies in Durban.
The nominees in the six main award categories were determined by votes cast by the country's rugby media. A panel of judges, comprising leading rugby journalists and SA Rugby representatives, voted on the winners.
The full list of award winners is as follows:
Absa SA Rugby Player of the Year 2004: Schalk Burger
Players' Player of the Year: Os du Randt
Sasol Most Promising Player of the Year 2004: Bryan Habana
Vodacom Rugby Super 12 Player of the Tournament 2004: De Wet Barry
Absa Currie Cup Player of the Tournament 2004: Ettienne Botha
Vodacom Cup Player of the Tournament 2004: John
Daniels
SuperSport Try of the Year 2004: Victor Matfield - try vs Australia in Vodacom Tri-Nations, Absa Stadium
The following Awards were voted for by SA Rugby representatives involved in the specific area of the sport:
SA Sevens Player of the Season: Kabamba Floors
SA Under-21 Player of the Season: Derick Hougaard
SA Under-19 Player of the Season: Heinke vd Merwe
SuperSport Club Champs Player of the Tournament: Nelis Nel (Pukke)
Coca-Cola Players of the Tournament: Luvuyo Mhlobiso (Mighty Elephants)
Women's Rugby Achievement Award: Ronwin Kelly (Eastern Province)
Marriott Refereeing Achievement Award: Jenny Bentel
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