Cape Town - Loose forward Jaco Kriel was the big winner at the Golden Lions’ annual awards ceremony.
Kriel walked away with more than one accolade at the union's year-end function held at a gala event at Carnival City on Tuesday evening.
Kriel was crowned Lions Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and the Supporters' Player of the Year.
Kriel had an impressive season, leading the unbeaten Golden Lions to Currie Cup victory in 2015.
Meanwhile, Warren Whiteley was named Super Rugby forward Player of the Year and Ruan Combrinck the Super Rugby Back of the Year.
Full list of winners:
Women’s Rugby
Women’s Forward of the Year - Luyanda Koi
Women’s Backline Player of the Year - Refilwe Ramahlo
Referees
GLRU Referee of the Year - Lesego Legoete
GLRU Women’s Referee of the Year - Ashleigh Murray
Fittest Referee of the Year - Zandre Janse Van Rensburg
Highest Exam Marks - Richard Schwulst and Hermanus Schwulst
Player Awards
GLRU Under-19 Forward Player of the Year - Juandre Michau
GLRU Under-19 Backline Player of the Year - Hendrik Mulder
GLRU Under-19 Player of the Year - James Venter
GLRU Under-21 forward player of the year - Ramone Samuels
GLRU Under-21 Backline Player of the Year - Rohan Janse van Rensburg
GLRU Under-21 Player of the Year - Bobby De Wee
Super Rugby Forward Player of the year - Warren Whiteley
Super Rugby Backline Player of the Year - Ruan Combrinck
GLRU Forward Player of the Year - Franco Mostert
GLRU Backline Player of the Year - Ross Cronje
GLRU Most Improved player of the Year - Lourens Erasmus
GLRU Players’ Player of the Year - Jaco Kriel
GLRU Supporters' Player of the Year - Jaco Kriel
GLRU Player of the Year - Jaco Kriel
Jaco Kriel and Lions coach Johan Ackermann (Picture: Wessel Oosthuizen)