Malcolm Marx capped a remarkable 2025 by being named SA Rugby Player of the Year on Thursday night.
The Springbok hooker added the prestigious domestic honour to the World Rugby Player of the Year award he received late last year, underlining a standout 2025 campaign in green and gold.
Marx beat fellow finalists Pieter-Steph du Toit, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ox Nché and Jasper Wiese to claim the award – the second time he has received the honour after first winning it in 2017.
Nadine Roos continued her dominance in the women’s game by securing the SA Rugby Women’s Player of the Year award for a second successive season.
Roos was recognised after a landmark year in which the Bok Women reached the World Cup playoffs for the first time. Her fellow finalists included Byrhandré Dolf, Aseza Hele, Libbie Janse van Rensburg and Babalwa Latsha.
Roos also claimed the newly introduced Springbok Women’s Sevens Player of the Year award.
The Springboks were also among the big winners on the night after a dominant 2025 season.
Rassie Erasmus was named Coach of the Year, while the Springboks collected the Team of the Year award after successfully defending the Rugby Championship title and winning 11 of their 13 Tests.
Among the emerging stars honoured was Ethan Hooker, who walked away with the SA Rugby Young Player of the Year award.
Other national team honours went to Shilton van Wyk, named Springbok Sevens Player of the Year, and Haashim Pead, who received the Junior Springbok Player of the Year award.
On the domestic front, Donavan Don of the Boland Cavaliers was named Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year, while Andrew Kota from the Griffons claimed the First Division honour.
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Patience Mokone of the Bulls Daisies was named Provincial Women’s Player of the Year, while referee Aimee Barrett-Theron collected the Referee of the Year award for the fourth time.
The Springboks’ record 43-10 win over the All Blacks in Wellington was voted the Fans’ Moment of the Year.
Several individuals were also honoured with special awards on the night.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi received the Spirit of ’95 Award, while Erasmus was presented with the Springbok Legacy Award.
Former Springbok Women’s captain Nolusindiso Booi was recognised for becoming the first player to reach 50 Test caps for the Springbok Women before retiring after the 2025 season.
The prestigious President’s Award was presented to Gavin Varejes for his decades-long contribution to the growth and development of rugby in South Africa.
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2025 SA Rugby Awards winners
SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year: Malcolm Marx
Finalists: Pieter-Steph du Toit, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ox Nché, Jasper Wiese
SA Rugby Women’s Player of the Year: Nadine Roos
Finalists: Byrhandré Dolf, Aseza Hele, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Babalwa Latsha
SA Young Women’s Player of the Year: Byrhandré Dolf
Finalists: Patience Mokone, Nombuyekezo Mdliki, Anushka Groenewald
Springbok Women’s Sevens Player of the Year: Nadine Roos
SA Rugby Young Player of the Year: Ethan Hooker
Finalists: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Canan Moodie, Haashim Pead, Zachary Porthen
URC Player of the Year: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Finalists: Cameron Hanekom, Wilco Louw
Springbok Sevens Player of the Year: Shilton van Wyk
Finalists: Selvyn Davids, Impi Visser
Junior Springbok Player of the Year: Haashim Pead
Finalists: Cheswill Jooste, Riley Norton
Team of the Year: Springboks
Finalists: Junior Springboks, Springboks, Springbok Sevens
Coach of the Year: Rassie Erasmus (Springboks)
Finalists: Swys de Bruin (Springbok Women), Kevin Foote (Junior Springboks), Philip Snyman (Springbok Sevens)
Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year: Donovan Don (Boland Cavaliers)
Finalists: Gurshwin Wehr (Griquas), George Whitehead (Griquas)
Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year: Andrew Kota (Griffons)
Finalists: Keagan Fortune (Valke), Willem van den Hever (Griffons)
2025 President’s Award: Gavin Varejes (South African Rugby Legends)
Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
