Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu beats Stormers teammate for top European nomination
NEWS: There is no stopping Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, having been nominated for SA Rugby Player of the Year 2025, he is now one of ten nominees for the 2026 Champions Cup Player of the Year award.
Following a strong pool stage performance with the Stormers, the 23-year-old Feinberg-Mngomezulu will compete with some high-profile names for the prestigious accolade.
The playmaker, who has also been nominated for the SA Rugby Men’s and Young Player of the Year awards, is the only South African who made the shortlist, beating his teammate Paul de Villiers, who has been in sublime form.
The flanker copped multiple Player of the Match awards, but failed to make the cut.
He has been earmarked as a future Springbok.
Union Bordeaux Bègles and Glasgow Warriors were both flawless during the pool stage, recording bonus-point victories in all four matches, and it is no surprise to see several of their players among the nominees. Bordeaux winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, the tournament’s leading try-scorer with six, earns a nomination alongside teammate Matthieu Jalibert, who scored the most points in the opening two rounds and currently totals four tries and seven conversions. For Glasgow Warriors, Jack Dempsey is recognised for his exceptional contributions to both attack and defence, leading the competition in carries and ranking third in tackles.
Bath are also well represented, with two nominees. Alfie Barbeary, Player of the Match in both Round 3 and Round 4, is joined by Finn Russell, who amassed an impressive 51 points and 21 conversions during the pool stage. Bath will face Saracens in the Round of 16, with Saracens’ Tom Willis earning his nomination thanks to his strong attacking displays and an impressive 85% tackle success rate.
Thomas Ramos has been instrumental in securing Stade Toulousain’s home advantage for the Round of 16. The competition’s top points scorer, Ramos has accumulated 53 points and 24 conversions so far. Leinster captain Caelan Doris also features among the nominees after leading his side to four pool stage victories and top spot in their pool.
Northampton Saints’ George Hendy, Player of the Match in Round 2, completes the shortlist.
The nominees were selected by a renowned judging panel following the conclusion of the pool stages of both the Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup, including Simon Zebo (Premier Sports, former Munster and Racing 92 player), Dimitri Yachvili (France Télévisions, EPCR Challenge Cup winner), Elma Smit (sports presenter and producer), Ryan Wilson (Premier Sports, former Glasgow Warriors player) and Topsy Ojo (Premier Sports, former London Irish player).
2026 Investec Player of the Year nominees
Alfie Barbeary (Bath)
Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Union Bordeaux Bègles)
Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors)
Caelan Doris (Leinster)
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers)
George Hendy (Northampton Saints)
Matthieu Jalibert (Union Bordeaux Bègles)
Thomas Ramos (Stade Toulousain)
Finn Russell (Bath)
Tom Willis (Saracens)
Roll of Honour
2025: Damian Penaud (Union Bordeaux Bègles)
2024: Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain)
2023: Gregory Alldritt (Stade Rochelais)
2022: Josh van der Flier (Leinster)
2021: Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain)
2020: Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
2019: Alex Goode (Saracens)
2018: Leone Nakarawa (Racing 92)
2017: Owen Farrell (Saracens)
2016: Maro Itoje (Saracens)
2015: Nick Abendanon (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
2014: Steffon Armitage (RC Toulon)
2013: Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon)
2012: Rob Kearney (Leinster)
2011: Sean O’Brien (Leinster)
2010: Ronan O’Gara (Munster – best player of first 15 years of European club rugby)
