Siya Kolisi, Rassie Erasmus top contenders in SA Sports Awards

Siya Kolisi, Makazole Mapimpi, Ronald Brown and Rassie Erasmus are among nominees announced at the weekend.  

The top rugby personalities feature in seven categories for their achievements between September 2019 to August 2021.  

Springbok captain Kolisi was nominated in two categories – the Sports Star of the Year as well as the People’s Choice Sport Star of the Year. 

Kolisi will go up against Paralympic sprinter Ntando Mahlangu, GP motorcycle racer Brad Binder, Olympic surfer Bianca Buitendag and Olympic swimmer Tatjana Schoenmaker in the People’s Choice award - an award decided on through a public vote.  

Try-scoring ace Mapimpi is one of three nominees in the category for Sportsman of the Year, while Blitzbok star Brown has been nominated as one of the Newcomers of the Year.

Director of Rugby Erasmus is on the list for the Coach of the Year Award.

The Springboks was nominated as Team of the Year and SA Rugby nominated in the category for Sports Federation of the Year. 

SA Rugby President Mark Alexander applauded the group. 

“These nominations once again underline the success we’ve had on rugby fields all over the world in the last couple of years and we are very proud of all the nominees,” said Alexander. 

“We are operating in challenging times in a difficult environment, but with everyone in the game prepared to pull in the same direction and to work for the same end-goal, anything is possible, as Rassie, Siya, Makazole and the Boks have proved over the last couple of years.”

The winners will be announced in Durban on Saturday.

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