The Western Province Rugby Union honoured their top achievers for this past season, and unsurprisingly, the Stormers duo of Evan Roos and Manie Libbok walked away with the top awards.

There are some parallels between Roos and Libbok. Both were under-utilised at the Sharks, both came to the Stormers seeking more game time, both played a major part in the Stormers’ URC triumph, and both are overlooked by the Springbok selectors.

Knocking on Springbok door

While Evan Roos spent some time in the Bok group and even made it out onto the park in the Wales Series in July, Libbok has only recently been invited to the party.

The Boks have some issues when it comes to flyhalves at the moment. They’ve been forced to look beyond the fourth-choice pivot that is Johan Goosen, as the Bulls man is also out injured. The Springboks are in Stellenbosch this week where they are fine-tuning and work-shopping before they name the squad on Friday.

In a statement released by the Stormers, it spoke of how big a part the flyhalf and utility back played during the 2021/22 URC campaign.

“Libbok and Roos were pivotal to the DHL Stormers’ claiming the inaugural Vodacom United Rugby Championship title, with Libbok ending the campaign as the top points-scorer and Roos voted the Players’ Player of the tournament as well,” said the statement.

“Libbok kicked a crucial drop-goal and Roos scored a try in the Grand Final, to cap off a season which saw both make important contributions regularly as the DHL Stormers took the title.”

Sacha Mngomezulu, the future

The young Sacha Mngomezulu also earned himself a massive accolade at the awards ceremony last night. The 20-year-old former Bishops man found himself in the Stormers group in the latter part of the URC campaign, as injuries plagued the group.

Mngomezulu made his debut in the quarterfinal against Edinburgh and featured in the matchday squad for all three play-off matches at DHL Stadium. His solid performances for the Stormers in those high-stakes matches earned him the Breakthrough player of the year award.

Here is the full list of winners

DHL WP U20 Player of the Year

Lukhanyo Vokozela

DHL WP U21 Player of the Year

Keke Morabe

Breakthrough Player of the Year

Sacha Mngomezulu

DHL WP Girls’ School’s Player of the Year

Logan Welmann

DHL WP School’s Player of the Year

Zachary Porthen

Club Rugby Player of the Year

Jacques van Zyl

Club Rugby Sevens Player of the Year

Ashton Hendricks

Referee of the Year

Aimee Barrett-Theron

DHL WP Women’s Player of the Year

Sinazo Mcatshulwa

DHL WP Player of the Year

Nama Xaba

BrightRock Needs-matched Award

Damian Willemse

Beyond Rugby Award powered by SunBet

Ernst van Rhyn

DHL Stormers Player of the Year

Manie Libbok

DHL Stormers Players’ Player of the Year

Evan Roos