Venter scoops top Cheetahs award

Cape Town - Cheetahs captain and Springbok centre Francois Venter was named Player of the Year at the union’s annual awards ceremony on Wednesday night.

It is the second consecutive year that Venter has scooped the prestigious award.

He was also named as the Cheetahs' Backline Player of the Year.

The Players' Player of the Year award went to loose forward Henco Venter, as well as the Currie Cup Player of the Year.

Prop Aranos Coetzee was rewarded with the Super Rugby Player of the Year award.

Vice-captain Torsten van Jaarsveld was named Forward of the Year, while promising young lock Sibabalo Qoma was named as the Free State XV’s Player of the Year.

The Under-21 Player of the Year award went to scrumhalf Dian Badenhorst, while winger Athenkosi Halom received the Under-19 Player of the Year accolade.

Toyota Free State Cheetahs Player of the Year – Sponsored by PWC: @Swys_Venter

The top award of the night, the Toyota Free State Cheetahs Player of the Year well deservingly went to the captain, Francois Venter. pic.twitter.com/GkQacNX8kL

— Toyota Cheetahs (@CheetahsRugby) January 17, 2018

The Toyota Free State Cheetah’s Player’s Player of the Year award went to Henco Venter. The players voted for this award themselves.

Venter is studying theology the nephew of the late South African international rugby player Ruben Kruger. pic.twitter.com/3d6munI5Df

— Toyota Cheetahs (@CheetahsRugby) January 17, 2018

Aranos Coetzee received the award for the Toyota Cheetahs Super Rugby Player of the Year – Sponsored by PWC. pic.twitter.com/prEIrMEUgc

— Toyota Cheetahs (@CheetahsRugby) January 17, 2018

The award for the Toyota Free State Cheetahs Currie Cup Player of the Year – Sponsored by PWC went to Henco Venter. Venter made a big impact on the team when he represented the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in 5 Currie Cup matches in 2017. pic.twitter.com/qXQuuKNZI3

— Toyota Cheetahs (@CheetahsRugby) January 17, 2018

Toyota Free State XV Currie Cup Player of the Year: Sibabalo Qoma

Sibabalo Qoma, one of the leading ball carriers during the 2017 Super Sport Challenge Cup and also represented the Toyota Free State Cheetahs u.21 team and Toyota Free State Cheetahs Currie Cup teams this year pic.twitter.com/bnEMI6tecc

— Toyota Cheetahs (@CheetahsRugby) January 17, 2018

U.21 Toyota Free State Cheetah Player of the Year: Dian Badenhorst

Dian represented the Toyota Free State Cheetahs u.21 2017 SA Rugby u.21 Championship and also represented the Toyota Free State XV in the Super Sport Challenge Cup. pic.twitter.com/woPhubn0xd

— Toyota Cheetahs (@CheetahsRugby) January 17, 2018

U.19 Toyota Free State Cheetah Player of the Year: Athenkosi Halom

The young wing, Athi Halom was with 18 tries the number one try scorer in the 2017 SA Rugby u.19 Championship and ranked 4th with 90 points scored. pic.twitter.com/oXjwImxrDe

— Toyota Cheetahs (@CheetahsRugby) January 17, 2018