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URC AWARDS

THE 2025/26 UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS

 

The annual URC awards celebrate excellence both on and off the field, recognising the players, coaches, and clubs whose passion and performance define the league.

 

Across 12 award categories—decided through a combination of statistical analysis, media voting panels, and fan votes—the honours include 10 individual accolades, one club award, and the prestigious Elite XV, showcasing the best players in each position.

2025/26 Winners

Ben
Ben Carter lock

IPVanish Tackle Machine

Players who have made 150 or more completed tackles during the regular season will be eligible for the award, with the individual who boasts the highest accuracy taking home the prize.

205 Tackles made

97.6% Accuracy

Evan
Evan Roos No. 8

OFX Top Try Scorer

Awarded to the player who has scored the most tries during the regular season.

12 Tries
16 Appearances

Chris
Chris Smith fly-half

Gilbert Golden Boot

The Gilbert Golden Boot is awarded in recognition of the player who kicks the most points in the regular season.

17 Penalties

49 Conversions

149 Total points

Quan
Quan Horn fullback

Ironman

The Ironman award is given to the player who has racked up the most minutes in the regular season.

18 Appearances

1440 Minutes

Jack
Jack Walsh fly-half

Playmaker

Creativity, adaptability, and composure under pressure define a true playmaker. The Playmaker Award is given to the player who creates chances and tries for his team, with three key metrics used to decide the winner – try assists for his team, defenders beaten on the pitch, and successfully completed offloads.

4 Try assists

24 Offloads

40 Defenders beaten

Tom
Tom Bowen wing

Next-Gen Player of the Season

This 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 that point. The nine-appearance threshold applies. The winner will be determined by a media vote.

Try of the Season (URC.tv)

Ten Top Tries of the season, sourced through URC.tv, will be shared with rugby fanatics around the world on various digital platforms, driving fans to vote via an online voting form. The player who scored the try that receives the most votes will receive this award.

Innovation Award

Rewarding and celebrating a URC club’s innovation in growing the love of the game. Digital fan engagement (metrics include social following growth Match day experience (metrics include attendance growth Community engagement

South African Vodacom URC Player of the Season

Awarded to a player from one of the four South African franchises which forms part of the annual SA Rugby Awards, and will be determined by votes from the four South African franchise coaches, the Springbok coach and selected broadcast commentators.

BKT Coach of the Season

The prize for the top coach will be voted for by all 16 of the leagues’ clubs head coaches and /or Director of Rugby.

Players’ Player of the Season

This award will be voted for by the Captain and Vice-Captain of each URC club, with all nominees required to have made a minimum of nine appearances.
View Past Winners
View Photo Gallery

2025/26 Elite XV

The Elite XV will be determined by a media vote. Players must have made nine appearances to be considered, with the media panel provided a shortlist of 10 per position by URC StatMaster. The player with the most votes in each position earns a place in the team.

Ntuthuko
Ntuthuko Mchunu prop

Johann
Johann Grobbelaar hooker

Thomas
Thomas Clarkson prop

Darragh
Darragh Murray lock

Cobus
Cobus Wiese lock

Cian
Cian Prendergast flanker

Ruan
Ruan Venter flanker

Evan
Evan Roos NO. 8

Embrose
Embrose Papier scrum-half

Sacha
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu fly-half

Kyle
Kyle Rowe wing

Stuart
Stuart McCloskey centre

Stafford
Stafford McDowall centre

Werner
Werner Kok wing

Quan
Quan Horn FULL-BACK

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