As the BKT United Rugby Championship edges closer to crowning its 2022/23 champion, the winners of the URC Awards will be announced over the coming weeks.
A total of 11 individual prizes are up for grabs, along with places in the end-of-season Elite XV.
While some of the awards are determined by URC StatMaster data provided by Oval Insights, others will be voted on by a panel of media representatives from all five territories involved in the competition while the newly added award Try of the Season, powered by URC.tv will be settled by a fans vote, as well as Vodacom Fans' Player of the Season.
The BKT Coach of the Season will be voted for by the 16 coaches with captains and vice-captains deciding the Player’s Player of the Season.
Winners will be revealed via online announcements during the BKT URC Play-Offs, with five prizes set to be dished out in the build-up to the Final Eight.
Semi-finals week will see the Elite XV unveiled and the Try of the Season announced along with the identity of the Next-Gen Player of the Season and the Vodacom Fans’ Player of the Season.
The BKT Coach of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season round off the awards in the build-up to the Grand Final.
Here is a full list of the awards on offer, the winning criteria and when the victors will be announced.
Tackle Machine
Criteria: Players who have made 150 or more tackles during the regular season will be eligible for the award, with the individual who boasts the highest accuracy taking home the prize. Winner announced: Tuesday May 2
Turnover King
Criteria: This award will be heading home with the player who has won the most turnovers during the regular season, with jackal turnovers used as the tie-breaker. Winner announced: Tuesday May 2
Gilbert Golden Boot
Criteria: The Gilbert Golden Boot is awarded in recognition of the most accurate place-kicker, with all kickers who have attempted a minimum of 30 ranked by their success percentage. Winner announced: Tuesday May 2
OFX Top Try Scorer
Criteria: Awarded to the player who has scored the most tries during the regular season. Winner announced: Wednesday May 3
Ironman
Criteria: Given to the player who has racked up the most minutes in the regular season. Winner announced: Wednesday May 3
Elite XV
Criteria: 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. Winners announced: Monday May 8
Try of the Season
Criteria: Powered by URC.tv, there will be a shortlist of six of the top tries of the season. The try which receives the most votes from the fans will be the winner. Winners announced: Tuesday May 9
Next-Gen Player of the Season
Criteria: This award is open to players who were aged under 23 at the beginning of the season and had earned no more than five international caps at that point. It is another that will be determined by a media vote and the nine-appearance threshold also applies here. This award is to recognise young up-and-coming talent. Winner announced: Wednesday May 10
Vodacom Fans’ Player of the Season
Criteria: The Vodacom Fans' Player of the Season award will be voted by fans around the world. Winner announced: Thursday May 11
BKT Coach of the Season
Criteria: The URC’s top coach will be voted for by all 16 of the competition’s head coaches. Winner announced: Tuesday May 23
Players’ Player of the Season
Criteria: This prestigious award will be voted on by the Captain and Vice-Captain of all 16 teams, with all nominees again required to have made a minimum of nine appearances. Winner announced: Wednesday May 24
Previous URC Award Winners:
Tackle Machine: Alan O’Connor (Ulster)
Turnover King: Jac Morgan (Ospreys)
Gilbert Golden Boot: Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys)
Top Try Scorer: Leolin Zas (DHL Stormers)
Ironman: Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls)
Next-Gen Player of the Season: Evan Roos (DHL Stormers)
Vodacom Fans’ Player of the Season: Evan Roos (DHL Stormers)
Loch Lomond Coach of the Season: Leo Cullen (Leinster)
Players’ Player of the Season: Evan Roos (DHL Stormers)
Dream Team (now Elite XV): Warrick Gelant (DHL Stormers), Seabelo Senatla (DHL Stormers), James Hume (Ulster), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), Leolin Zas (DHL Stormers), Ross Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster); Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Marcell Coetzee (Vodacom Bulls), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers)
