Bulls star voted the next big thing, as SA dominate Elite XV

AWARDS: Six young South African players were nominated for the United Rugby Championship Next-Gen Player of the Season.

However, only one can claim the prestigious award, and it was none other than Bulls star Cameron Hanekom.

The Bulls loose forward beat the likes of Quan Horn, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Henco van Wyk, Cameron Hanekom, Andre-Hugo Venter and Suleiman Hartzenburg, who were all in contention after their stellar performances this season.

The award is to recognise young up-and-coming talent. This category is open to players who were aged 23 or under at the start of the season and had earned no more than five international caps at the beginning of the 2024/25 season.

They must also have played at least nine games in the 2024/25 URC season.

Hanekom has been a key player for the Bulls this season, helping them finish second in the regular season table.

In voting for Hanekom, a member of the media said: “Cameron Hanekom is supremely powerful in a thoroughly focused way, whether ripping the ball off the opposition or carrying it up. He has learned to be more selective at the breakdown and has a massive engine. A thrilling runner in space as well.

Previous winners of his award include Munster’s Jack Crowley (2023/34), Ulster’s Tom Stewart (2022/23) and Stormers forward, Evan Roos (2021/22).

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Hanekom has also been named in the URC Elite XV of the season.

The No.8 is one of three Bulls in the team. The other two are front row duo Wilco Louw and Jan-Hendrik Wessels.

The Bulls trio are part of seven South Africans in the Elite X.

Sharks’ Andre Esterhuizen has been selected at inside centre, while Stormers playmaker Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is named at flyhalf.

Springbok and Leinster RG Snyman is at lock and Scarlets hooker Marnus van der Merwe also made the cut after his solid season.

URC Elite XV

15 Jamie Osborne (Leinster), 14 Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), 13 Tom Farrell (Munster), 12 Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), 11 Blair Murray (Scarlets), 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), 9 Craig Casey (Munster), 8 Cameron Hanekom (Bulls), 7 Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), 6 Jac Morgan (Ospreys), 5 Tadhg Beirne (Munster), 4 RG Snyman (Leinster), 3 Wilco Louw (Bulls), 2 Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls)

URC Awards Winners 2024-25

Golden Boot: Ioan Lloyd (Scarlets)
Top Try Scorer: Harri Millard (Cardiff)
Tackle Machine: Ruben van Heerden (Stormers)
Ironman: Cam Winnett (Cardiff)
Playmaker: Tom Farrell (Munster)
Next-Gen Player of the Season: Cameron Hanekom (Bulls)