Feinberg-Mngomezulu leads the charge in Vodacom URC SA Player of the Year awards

DHL Stormers star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Vodacom Bulls standouts Cameron Hanekom and Wilco Louw have been named the three finalists for the South African Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) Player of the Season award, following a standout 2024/25 campaign.

Voting for the prestigious accolade closed on Friday, with votes cast by the Springbok coaching staff, the four South African franchise coaches, and selected media representatives. Seventeen players from across the DHL Stormers, Vodacom Bulls, Emirates Lions and Hollywoodbets Sharks received votes, but it was Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Hanekom and Louw — all of whom were part of last week’s Springbok alignment camp in Cape Town — who emerged as the top contenders.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been a central figure in the Stormers’ attacking arsenal this season, consistently delivering sharp performances and finishing joint-fifth on the list of top points scorers in the league phase. Hanekom has been a dynamic presence for the Bulls, shining with ball in hand, on defence, and at the breakdown — he leads his team for defenders beaten, turnovers won and tackles made, and ranks fifth overall for offloads. Louw, who returned to the Bok setup in 2024 after a two-year absence, has been the cornerstone of a Bulls scrum that is widely regarded as the most dominant in the competition.

The winner will be announced on Thursday, 5 June, as part of the annual Vodacom URC Awards ceremony, where several other South African players remain in the running for key individual honours.