SA coaches miss out on top award

AWARDS: Munster’s Graham Rowntree has been voted United Rugby Championship Coach of the Season.

Having led Munster to URC glory last season, the Englishman has followed that up with another excellent run of form post-Christmas, leading his side to 11 wins in a row.

Munster finished top of the table during the regular season and reached this year’s semifinal of the URC.

The Irish province suffered a 10-17 defeat to Franco Smith’s Glasgow Warriors in Limerick last weekend.

Meanwhile, Director of Rugby Jake White led the Bulls to their second Final in three years with a 25-20 win over Leinster.

The Coach of the Season is voted for by the league’s head coaches with Rowntree receiving the recognition from his peers.

Only one prize now remains to be announced with the Players’ Player of the Season set to be revealed on Thursday.

URC Awards Winners 2023-24:

Tackle Machine: Alessandro Izekor (Benetton)
Turnover King: Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh)
Golden Boot: Chris Smith (Bulls)
Top Try-Scorer: Johnny Matthews (Glasgow Warriors)
Ironman Award: Shane Daly (Munster)
Next-Gen Player of the Season: Jack Crowley (Munster)
Try of the Season: Aphelele Fassi (Sharks)
Innovation Award: Benetton
URC Player of the Season: Sanele Nohamba (Lions)
Coach of the Season: Graham Rowntree (Munster)

URC Elite XV 2023/24: 15 Warrick Gelant (Stormers), 14 Jordan Larmour (Leinster), 13 Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), 12 Alex Nankivell (Munster), 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), 10 Jack Crowley (Munster), 9 John Cooney (Ulster), 8 Cameron Hanekom (Bulls), 7 Elrigh Louw (Bulls), 6 Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), 5 Ruan Nortjé (Bulls), 4 Tadhg Beirne (Munster), 3 Wilco Louw (Bulls), 2 Akker van der Merwe (Bulls), 1 Ox Nche (Sharks)