Elite XV and Next-Gen Player of the Season Winner, Hanekom, announced

URC Media
2 days ago
2 min read

The 2024/25 United Rugby Championship ‘Elite XV’ has officially been announced.

The Elite XV is determined by a media vote and players must have made at least nine appearances to be considered, with the media panel provided a shortlist of 10 per position by URC StatMaster.

Meanwhile, Vodacom Bulls forward Cameron Hanekom has been named as Next-Gen Player of the Season. The prestigious award was voted for by members of the media across all five URC nations.

He joins Ruben van Heerden (Tackle Machine), Tom Farrell (Playmaker), Ioan Llyod (Gilbert Golden Boot), Harri Millard (OFX Top Try Scorer) and Cam Winnett (Ironman) in winning individual awards for their monumental efforts this season.

Elite XV

The selection features three players each from the Vodacom Bulls and Munster Rugby, including Playmaker award winner Farrell and Next-Gen Player of the Season, Hanekom.

No less than 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 also all making the cut.

Tadhg Beirne, Hanekom and Wilco Louw all make the Elite XV for the second season in-a-row.

Elite XV: 15 Jamie Osborne (Leinster Rugby), 14 Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), 13 Tom Farrell (Munster Rugby), 12 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), 11 Blair Murray (Scarlets); 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), 9 Craig Casey (Munster Rugby); 8 Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), 7 Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), 6 Jac Morgan (Ospreys); 5 Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby), 4 RG Snyman (Leinster Rugby); 3 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), 2 Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (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 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 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).

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)

Next-Gen Player of the Season: Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls)