Carr scoops the accolades
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Western Province and Stormers loose forward Nizaam Carr was the big winner at the WP Rugby Awards Evening on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old loose forward star walked off with two big prizes – the MVP Award and the prestigious Players' Player of the Year Award, the latter as voted for by his peers.
Carr has had an outstanding season, first establishing himself as a first-choice pick for the Stormers and then carrying that form across into the Currie Cup competition.
Joining Carr as major winners on the night were Springboks Duane Vermeulen (Senior Forward of the Year), Damian de Allende (Senior Back of the Year), Michael Rhodes (Most Promising Senior Forward) and Cheslin Kolbe (Most Promising Senior Back).
Western Province coach Allister Coetzee commended Carr and his fellow award winners for their contributions to WP Rugby.
"Last year Nizaam was our most promising player and he has stepped up superbly in 2014 – firstly earning a starting place in the Stormers team and then being a standout player for WP in the Currie Cup," said Coetzee.
"To the rest of the award winners, from Under-19 level right up, the club players and teams, our women's player; congratulations and thank you for your efforts."
Of course, WP have already sealed a top-of-the-log finish to the Currie Cup season, and with it home-ground advantage in the play-offs.
"We've got a busy few weeks ahead of us, as we approach the business-end of the season, and we would all like to end the year on a high," Coetzee said
"We know it won't be easy, but we are fortunate to have great support and will be relying on our faithful supporters to help us through over the next few weeks."
The other professional award winners on the night were the WP Under-19 trio of Rikus Bothma, Ernst Stapelberg and Grant Hermanus – the Forward, Back and Most Promising Player, respectively, in their age-group.
At Under-21 level, meanwhile, loose forward Sikhumbuzo Notshe walked off with the Forward of the Year Award, having been an award winner at U21 level in 2013 too.
Flyhalf Robert du Preez (Back of the Year) and centre Johnny Kotze (Most Promising Player) were the other WP U21 award winners.
But it was not just about the professional players on the night, with all the winning Western Province clubs receiving their trophies – including Super League A league winners, Maties, and recent Grand Challenge Trophy winners, Durbanville-Bellville.
All the individual winners:
Clubs' Player of the Year: Danwill Erasmus
Women's Player of the Year: Denita Wentzel
Sevens Player of the Year: Armien Bailey
Referee of the Year: Marius van der Westhuizen
Under-19 Best Forward: Rikus Bothma
U19 Best Back: Ernst Stapelberg
Most Promising U19 Player: Grant Hermanus
Under-21 Best Forward: Sikhumbuzo Notshe
U21 Best Back: Robert du Preez
Most Promising U21 Player: Johnny Kotze
Best Forward: Duane Vermeulen
Best Back: Damian de Allende
Most Promising Senior Forward: Michael Rhodes
Most Promising Senior Back: Cheslin Kolbe
MVP Award: Nizaam Carr
WP Players' Player of the Year: Nizaam Carr
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