Whiteley the top Lion for 2014

Johannesburg - Warren Whiteley was named the 2014 Player of the Year at the annual Golden Lions Rugby Union Player (GLRU) Awards on Wednesday evening.

The union honoured the Springbok capping of three players in 2014 that included Whiteley, Julian Redelinghuys and Marnitz Boshoff.

Whiteley, Kwagga Smith, Ruhan Nel and Mark Richards all represented South Africa in Sevens rugby in 2014, with Whiteley and Smith both having been a part of the gold medal-winning Commonwealth Games side.

The Senior Awards were dominated by the forwards with Armand van der Merwe walking away with the Most Improved Player of the Year award.

Loose forward Jaco Kriel was named the Forward Player of the Year, the Players' Player of the Year and was also awarded the Supporters' Player of the Year Award.

Lionel Mapoe walked away with the Senior Backline Player of the Year, while flyhalf Jaco van der Walt won most improved Backline Player.

Award winners:

Under 19 Forward Player of the Year: Marnus Erasmus

Under 19 Backline Player of the Year: Godfrey Ramaboea

Under 19 Player of the Year: Gerdus van der Walt

Under 21 Forward Player of the Year: Malcolm Marx

Under 21 Backline Player of the Year: Harold Vorster

Under 21 Player of the Year: Harold Vorster

Senior Forward Player of the Year: Jaco Kriel

Senior Most Improved Forward Player of the Year: Armand van der Merwe

Senior Backline Player of the Year: Lionel Mapoe

Senior Most Improved Backline Player of the Year: Jaco van der Walt

Supporters' Player of the Year: Jaco Kriel

Senior Players' Player of the Year: Jaco Kriel

Senior Player of the Year: Warren Whiteley

Referee of the Year: Lesego 'Pro' Legoete.