After being invited by SARU to have a voice in the selection of the Player of the Year for 2013, fans have narrowed the winner down to either Jean de Villiers, Bismarck du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Willie le Roux or Duane Vermeulen.
Jurie Roux, SARU CEO said: “It is again very pleasing that we are able to give our rugby fans a voice in the game, and the SARU Player of the Year Awards is an ideal platform to do so.
Last year proved that supporters have strong opinions on who should win and the feedback was great, hence the decision to make the public part of the polling process again,” said Roux.
Roux said that the fans’ vote would count for 50 percent of the final
tally alongside the vote of the rugby media, who had exclusively decided
on the winners in recent years.
Bryan Habana is the reigning Player of the Year, having won the title in 2012 to add to the titles he claimed in 2005 and 2007.
The winner will be named at a gala event on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at Gold Reef City in Johannesburg.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Who deserves to be named SARU Player of the Year for 2013? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
The award categories, voting panels and eligibility criteria are as follows:
SA Rugby Player of the Year: Media (50%) Public (50%) - All South Africa-qualified players playing in SARU competitions and teams (players who played locally during 2013 before joining overseas clubs are also eligible)
Absa Young Player of the Year (U23): Media (50%) Public (50%) - Any South Africa-qualified player playing in SARU competitions and teams under the age of 23 on January 1.
Absa Team of the Year: Media (50%) Coaches (50%) - Any South African team playing in our competitions or representing South Africa on the international stage.
Absa Coach of the Year: Coaches (100% - All coaches in provincial SARU competitions) - Any coach of a South African team playing locally or abroad.
Vodacom Super Ruger Player of the Year: Coaches (100% - The five franchise coaches) - Any South African player in Vodacom Super Rugby.
Vodacom Cup Player of the Year: Coaches (100% - The 16 participating coaches) - Any South African player in Vodacom Cup.
Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year: Coaches (100% - The six participating coaches) - Any South African player in the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division
Absa Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year: Coaches (100% - The eight participating coaches) - Any South African player in Absa Currie Cup First Division
SARPA Players’ Player of the Year: (Players 100%) - Any South African player.
Springbok Sevens Player of the Year: Media (50%), Coach (50%) - Any player that has represented the Springbok Sevens team on the HSBC Sevens World Series.
Supersport Try of the Year: SuperSport Rugby Panel (100%) Any try scored by a South African playing for a local team.
SA U20 Player of the Year: Media (50%), Coach (50%) - Any player that represented the SA U20 team at the JWC.
Coca-Cola Craven Week Player of the Year: Development Department, SARU National Selectors, SA Schools Selectors - Any player at the Coca-Cola U18 Craven Week.
Marriott Referee Award: Referees (50%), Coaches (50%) - Any South African referee.
Women’s Player of the Year: Women’s Rugby Department - Any player that has represented the SA Women
Cell C Community Cup Player of the Tournament: Development Department, Tournament Media, Tournament management, National selectors - Any player in the Cell C Community Cup.