Next-Gen Player of the Season and Elite XV winners announced

Next-Gen Player of the Season - Tom Bowen (Cardiff Rugby)

Tom Bowen is going to have to get himself a trophy cabinet at this rate!

The young winger picked up a host of prizes at Cardiff Rugby’s recent awards night, being named Breakthrough Player of the Season and Fans’ Player of the Season, while his stunning effort in the play-off clinching victory over the DHL Stormers at the Arms Park was named the club’s Try of the Season.

Now he has been chosen as the URC Next-Gen Player of the Season through a vote by the media.

The award was open to players who were 23 and under and had no more than five international caps at the beginning of the season, while they also had to have made at least nine appearances during the league campaign.

Bowen, who has only just turned 20, is uncapped by Wales as of yet, but is certainly winning admirers with his electrifying running game and acrobatic finishing.

He scored six tries in his 11 appearances for Cardiff during the regular league season, while he crossed ten times in all, including a double against Ireland in the U20s Six Nations Championship.

Reflecting on his awards, the Aberdare RFC product said: “I’m over the moon to be honest.

“It’s been a pretty special season, making the BKT URC Play-Offs, making history for Cardiff.

“It’s a club I have grown up watching. I’m a local boy and Cardiff is my home club.

“To break through in the season that we have had is pretty special.

“The season has gone so quickly. It feels like yesterday we were kicking off the season against the Lions at the start.

“The whole season has just been so enjoyable and I just love playing at the Arms Park.”

Elite XV

Seven different teams are represented in the URC Elite XV of the season.

The side was voted on by a media selection panel, spanning all five territories within the competition.

To be eligible, players must have made nine appearances during the regular campaign, with the panel provided with a shortlist of 10 per position by URC StatMaster.

The player with the most votes in each position then earned a place in the team.

South African sides the DHL Stormers and the Vodacom Bulls provide the biggest contingent with three apiece.

The league’s top try scorer Evan Roos (12) and top points scorer Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (158) are both recognised for their efforts, along with their Stormers teammate Ntuthuko Mchunu.

As for the Bulls of Pretoria, scrumhalf Embrose Papier and hooker Johann Grobbelaar - who touched down nine and eight times respectively - are joined by second row Cobus Wiese.

Meanwhile, Ulster Rugby, Connacht Rugby, Glasgow Warriors and the Fidelity SecureDrive Lions all have two players on board.

Ireland star Stuart McCloskey has been chosen at inside centre after an outstanding season for both club and country, while his Ulster teammate Werner Kok is rewarded for his 10 tries with a wing spot.

Connacht provide hard-grafting forwards Cian Prendergast and Darragh Murray, while there are two Glasgow backs selected in Kyle Rowe and Stafford McDowall, with elusive winger Rowe having beaten 52 defenders, made 21 clean breaks and run for 783 metres in his 13 league outings.

As for the Lions, their achievement in reaching the play-offs for the first time and also winning the South African Shield is recognised by the inclusion of flanker Ruan Venter and fullback Quan Horn, with Horn having played every single minute of the regular season to pick up the Ironman award for the second time.

The team is completed by Leinster Rugby’s Thomas Clarkson packing down at tighthead prop.

Elite XV Team

1 Ntuthuko Mchunu, DHL Stormers (Loosehead Prop)

2 Johann Grobbelaar, Vodacom Bulls (Hooker)

3 Thomas Clarkson, Leinster Rugby (Tighthead Prop)

4 Darragh Murray, Connacht Rugby (Lock / Second Row (4))

5 Cobus Wiese, Vodacom Bulls (Lock / Second Row (5))

6 Cian Prendergast, Connacht Rugby (Flanker (6))

7 Ruan Venter, Fidelity SecureDrive Lions (Flanker (7))

8 Evan Roos, DHL Stormers (Number 8)

9 Embrose Papier, Vodacom Bulls (Scrum-half)

10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, DHL Stormers (Fly-half)

11 Kyle Rowe, Glasgow Warriors (Left Wing (No.11))

12 Stuart McCloskey, Ulster Rugby (Inside Centre)

13 Stafford McDowall, Glasgow Warriors (Outside Centre)

14 Werner Kok, Ulster Rugby (Right Wing (No.14))

15 Quan Horn, Fidelity SecureDrive Lions (Full-back)

Be sure to follow all the URC Awards announcements using the hashtag #URCAwards

URC Awards Winners 2025/26

Gilbert Golden Boot: Chris Smith (Fidelity SecureDrive Lions)

IPVanish Tackle Machine: Ben Carter (Dragons RFC)

Ironman: Quan Horn (Fidelity SecureDrive Lions)

OFX Top Try Scorer: Evan Roos (DHL Stormers)

Playmaker: Jack Walsh (Ospreys)

Next-Gen Player of the Season: Tom Bowen (Cardiff Rugby)

Elite XV: 15 Quan Horn (Fidelity SecureDrive Lions),14 Werner Kok (Ulster Rugby), 13 Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors), 12 Stuart McCloskey (Ulster Rugby), 11 Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors); 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), 9 Embrose Papier (Vodacom Bulls); 8 Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), 7 Ruan Venter (Fidelity SecureDrive Lions), 6 Cian Prendergast (Connacht Rugby); 5 Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls), 4 Darragh Murray (Connacht Rugby); 3 Thomas Clarkson (Leinster Rugby), 2 Johann Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu (DHL Stormers).