1
Evan Roos completes URC award haul with Player of the Season gong
By Ian Cameron
Stormers No.8 Evan Roos has won the United Rugby Championship Player of the Season Award, his fourth URC award of what has been a dream season for the 22-year-old.
It was a cateogory that was completely dominated by South African players. Roos defeated the challenges from the Vodacom Bulls skipper Marcell Coetzee, his teammate Ruan Nortje, Lukhanyo Am of the Sharks, Lions back row Vincent Tshituka and Stormers back Warrick Gelant.
A media poll, nominations from the coaching staffs of the Springboks and the four competing franchises, and ultimately a fan vote through Vodacom's digital platforms determined the six finalists.
Together with his DHL Stormers teammates, Roos celebrated their first victory in an international tournament last weekend. Roos picked up four awards in total, including Breakthrough Player of the Season, Players' Player of the Season and Fan Player of the Season.
“We are delighted for Evan and this award is well deserved given his form and consistency throughout the competition,” said Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber. “The fact that he received this honour in a competition featuring some of the best players in the northern hemisphere also shows the depth and quality of players we have in South Africa and especially young players.”
Roos is now set to win his first Test cap, with the No.8 a shoe-in to feature against Wales with Duane Vermuelen recovering from knee surgery.
Vodacom URC Awards Winner List 2021-22
Tackle Machine: Alan O’Connor (Ulster)
Turnover King: Jac Morgan (Ospreys)
Gilbert Golden Boot: Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys)
Top Try Scorer: Leolin Zas (DHL Stormers)
Ironman: Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls)
Next-Gen Player of the Season: Evan Roos (DHL Stormers)
Vodacom Fans’ Player of the Season: Evan Roos (DHL Stormers)
Loch Lomond Coach of the Season: Leo Cullen (Leinster)
Players’ Player of the Season: Evan Roos (DHL Stormers)
Vodacom URC Player of the Season: Evan Roos (DHL Stormers)
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Bath Rugby turnover breaks £20m but losses increase
3
Edinburgh face anxious wait over Duhan van der Merwe
4
Multiple clubs swarming to lure Chris Harris from Gloucester
5
Latest Comments
Well deserved for a young talented, bright and humble player.
Go to commentsCane shouldn’t have been one last year, based purely on performances. Lakai is as close to a like for like of swap of Savea you’re ever likely to find, based on his short career so far at least. He has many of the same qualities - very strong ball carrier, great at the breakdown, and an absolute work horse on defence. I feel like he and Sititi could lead the way in the loose at the next WC.
I think we have become obsessed with replacing Kaino with someone exactly like him. Kaino was a perfect foil for the other loose forwards we had at the time. Based on the talent we have around at the moment those players could be made up in the aggregate by three players who are all exception all rounders - Lakai, Sititi, and Savea. Missing some height for sure but Sititi’s defensive work in the line out last year was phenomenal. He gets off the ground so quickly and was able to steal a couple of balls off the top of the springbok line out.
If our young locks coming through can actually stay fit long enough to get selected, it seems inevitable that Va’ai could end up in a hybrid 6/lock role.
Go to comments