URC Awards: Cameron Hanekom is the URC Next-Gen Player of the Year. Hanekom, the Bulls No 8, also made the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Elite XV, among a host of other South Africans.
Hanekom, a Paarl Boys High old boy, follows in the footsteps of another Boshaai old boy (Stormers No 8) Evan Roos, who won the inaugural season’s award.
Hanekom has been among the stand out players in the league and is the frontrunner to be the Springboks No 8 for the start of the international season, should incumbent Jasper Wiese have not recovered from a neck operation.
Hanekom was superb in the Bulls URC quarter-final win against Edinburgh and has been exceptional in all competitions for the Bulls this season.
His URC form has been consistently good in several different categories and he is of that rare breed of player who ranks highly across so many facets of the game.
RUBEN VAN HEERDEN IS THE URC TACKLE MACHINE AWARD WINNER
The URC StatMaster and Media combined for the final Elite XV Team of the Season.
Hanekom joins South African Ruben van Heerden of the DHL Stormers as a category winner. Van Heerden won the Tackle Machine Award.
Tom Farrell (Playmaker), Ioan Llyod (Gilbert Golden Boot), Harri Millard (OFX Top Try Scorer), and Cam Winnett (Ironman) were also winners of the individual awards.
URC Elite XV
The selection features three players each from the Vodacom Bulls and Munster Rugby, including Playmaker award winner Tom Farrell and Next-Gen Player of the Season, Cameron Hanekom.
Nine teams are represented in the XV, with the likes of Edinburgh’s Darcy Graham, Scarlets winger Blair Murray and Hollywoodbets Sharks centre Andre Esterhuizen obvious inclusions after imposing performances throughout the season.
Munster’s Tadhg Beirne, Hanekom and Bulls tightwad prop Wilco Louw all make the Elite XV for the second season in-a-row.
League winners Leinster provide just the one player in fullback Jamie Osborne.
Elite XV
- Jamie Osborne (Leinster Rugby)
- Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby)
- Tom Farrell (Munster Rugby)
- Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
- Blair Murray (Scarlets)
- Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers)
- Craig Casey (Munster Rugby)
- Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls)
- Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets)
- Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls)
- RG Snyman (Leinster Rugby)
- Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby)
- Jac Morgan (Ospreys)
- Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors)
- Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls)
Next-Gen Player of the Season: Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls)
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 the beginning of the 2024/25 season.
They must also have played at least nine games in the 2024/25 BKT URC season.
Hanekom has been a key player for the Vodacom Bulls this season, helping them finish second in regular season table.
In voting for Hanekom, a member spokesperson of the media said: “Cameron Hanekom is supremely powerful in a thoroughly focused way, whether ripping the ball off the opposition or carrying it up. He has learned to be more selective at the breakdown and has a massive engine. A thrilling runner in space as well.
Previous winners of his award include Munster’s Jack Crowley (2023/34), Ulster’s Tom Stewart (2022/23) and DHL Stormers forward Evan Roos (2021/22).
Be sure to follow all the URC Awards announcements using the hashtag #URCAwards
URC Awards Winners 2024-25
Gilbert Golden Boot: Ioan Lloyd (Scarlets)
OFX Top Try Scorer: Harri Millard (Cardiff Rugby)
Tackle Machine: Ruben van Heerden (DHL Stormers)
Ironman: Cam Winnett (Cardiff Rugby)
Playmaker: Tom Farrell (Munster Rugby)
Elite XV: Jamie Osborne (Leinster Rugby), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Tom Farrell (Munster Rugby), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Blair Murray (Scarlets), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Craig Casey (Munster Rugby), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), RG Snyman (Leinster Rugby), Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls).
*Bold denotes South African players
Next-Gen Player of the Season: Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls)
You can check out the full URC Awards Hall of Fame right here
Src: keo.co.za
