Two SA refs among World Rugby award nominees

Three South Africans, Springbok Sevens try-scoring ace Seabelo Senatla, as well as the refereeing duo of Rasta Rasivhenge and Jaco Peyper, were on Tuesday nominated in various categories for the prestigious World Rugby Awards for 2016.

Senatla is one of three nominees for World Rugby’s Sevens Player of the Year Award, in association with HSBC 2016. It’s his second successive nomination for this honour, which was won by Blitzbok Werner Kok last year.

World Rugby announced on Tuesday that Senatla, who scored 66 tries in the 2015/16 HSBC Sevens Series, was on the shortlist alongside Virimi Vakatawa (France) and Osea Kolinisau (Fiji).

The three players were selected by an independent awards panel which includes a representative from each of the Sevens teams and the television commentators from the Sevens Series. The flying South African was already named top try-scorer for the season by World Rugby when the 2015/16 series concluded in London.

Senatla, who was last week named the Steinhoff Springbok Sevens Player of the Year, will try to emulate Kok and another one of this Springbok Sevens team mates, Cecil Afrika, who was named the best sevens player on the planet in 2011.

Peyper and Rasivhenge are shortlisted for the World Rugby Referee Award along with Jérôme Garcès of France and Spain's Alhambra Nievas.

The World Rugby Awards dinner will be held at the Hilton Metropole in London, on Sunday 13 November where the winner will be announced.

SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux congratulated the trio on their nominations.

“Our referees have always been highly rated in the world and this proves that it is still the case. Well done to Jaco and Rasta,” said Roux.

“And to see Seabelo’s name amongst the nominees for Sevens Player of the Year is good reward for the Blitzboks as well.

“It is always good to be recognized by your peers and confirms that we are doing something right. Our sevens team has consistently deliver good performances despite their hectic schedule, playing in ten cities around the globe in the space of eight months.

“The team is already getting in shape for the 2016/17 series and we are keen to see them in action in December, when they will play in the HSBC Cape Town Sevens tournament. We believe this nomination inspire all of the guys to again deliver a highly competitive effort in the coming season.”

• On Monday, Senatla and the Springbok Sevens team, were also amongst the nominations of the 2016 South African Sport Awards when the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr Fikile Mbalula, announced the nominees for this year's event.

The Blitzboks were nominated as Team of the Year, along with local football giant Mamelodi Sundowns and the Rowing Men’s Coxless team.

Senatla was named in the People’s Choice Award alongside Chad Le Clos (swimming), Wayde van Niekerk (athletics), Caster Semenya (athletics) and Kagiso Rabada (cricket). The annual awards will take place on 27 November 2016 in Bloemfontein.

In another boost for rugby, the first team from Paarl Boys’ High School was nominated alongside St Benedict's rowing team and La Rochelle Girls’ School's athletics team as School Team of the Year.