Lions captain Wikus van Heerden became the first Lions player to win the coveted player of the year award for the second consecutive year at the Golden Lions Rugby Union’s annual awards dinner held at Ellis Park Stadium on Tuesday night.
Van Heerden won the award last year and again walked away with the big prize ahead of contenders such as Bryan Habana and Andre Pretorius.
Andy Turner, CEO of the Lions, was excited about starting the year with an awards dinner, thus creating pride and excitement as the 2005 season kicks off.
”To have a player like Wikus leading the Lions, is heart-warming for any union. The great spirit that currently exists within the Cats is mostly due to the presence of senior players like Wikus,” said Turner.
The award for most promising player went to Habana for his meteoric rise to national level in his first year of provincial rugby last year.
The 2004 Under-20 captain, Willem van der Wal, took the honours for Under-20 player of the year after gallantly leading his charges to the final of the competition.
”Looking at the long list of young up-and-coming players in the union, I can definitely say that we have got great depth in our junior rugby running through to club and schools level. I think we are doing our bit for South African rugby if one looks at the South African Sevens, SA Under-19 and SA Under-21 teams and our representation in those fields,” said Turner.
Staff members of the union were also honoured for working five, 10 and 15 years at the union. — Sapa
Winners in each category:
Player of the year: Wikus van Heerden
Other nominees: John Daniels, Bryan Habana, Andre Pretorius, Doppies la Grange
Most promising player of the year: Bryan Habana
Other nominees: Schalk Brits, Cobus Grobbelaar, Enrico Januarie, Schalk van der Merwe
Under-20 player of the year: Willem van der Wal
Other nominees: Jano Vermaak, Heinke van der Merwe
Most promising referee: Lesego Mabelane
Other nominees: Madel Herselman, Kim Smith
Referee of the year: Willie Roos