Emirates Lions playmaker Sanele Nohamba has been named Vodacom United Rugby Championship Player of the Season 2024 following a fantastic campaign with the Johannesburg-based franchise.
The 25-year-old Nohamba follows in the footsteps of DHL Stormers duo Evan Roos and Manie Libbok, who won this award in the first two seasons of URC.
The award was open to any player from one of the four South African franchises and forms part of the annual SA Rugby Awards, with the winner determined by votes from the South African media, the four South African franchise coaches, and Springboks head coach, Rassie Erasmus.
Nohamba edged out Vodacom Bulls duo Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cameron Hanekom in winning the coveted award.
Nohamba – who has progressed through SA Rugby’s Elite Player Development pipeline and honed his skills for the SA Schools and Junior Springbok sides – played scrumhalf and flyhalf for the Emirates Lions, starting 17 of their 18 games in 2023/24. He scored two tries, and added 32 conversions, 14 penalty goals and a drop goal for a personal tally of 119 points during the season, which placed him fourth overall after the league phase of the competition.
Nohamba also made 462 metres, with seven try-assists and 19 defenders beaten in an excellent all-round season.
Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby, congratulated Nohamba on his exceptional season, which also earned him an invitation to the Springbok alignment camps.
“It’s often said that there is no more space in our game for players who are smaller in stature but Sanele disproved that assumption this season,” said Alexander.
“What he lacks in size, he makes up for in skill, heart, and temperament. This award is a testament to his remarkable attitude. Sanele adapted seamlessly from scrumhalf to flyhalf and excelled in the No 10 jersey, catching the attention of Rassie Erasmus.
“The Lions came very close to making the play-offs for the first time, and Sanele was one of their standout players this season. He is a deserving recipient of the Vodacom URC Player of the Season award.”
Sitho Mdlalose, CEO of Vodacom South Africa, said: “We’re delighted to recognise what has been a magnificent season for Sanele Nohamba. Sanele has been a true inspiration with his exciting play for the Emirates Lions, and he really embodies the ethos of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship with his fighting spirit and his selfless service to his team.
“Sanele has taken his talent and passion for the game all the way from his upbringing in Alice in the Eastern Cape right to the biggest stages in world rugby and now even into challenging for Springbok selection.
“We’re privileged to have played a part in providing the platform for his talent to shine and grow, and to be able to recognise the hard work he’s put in to make this such a defining season for him.
“Nohamba has brought such a fresh and exciting element to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship this season and is a thoroughly deserving winner of this award. His humility and service to his teammates epitomises the spirit of this competition and indeed Vodacom’s own belief that we can all do so much more if we go Further Together. His triumph is a testament to the skills and character of a player who showed his true potential this season, and who is undoubtedly destined for greatness in the game.”
Be sure to follow all the URC Awards announcements using the hashtag #URCAwards.
URC Awards Winners 2023/24
Tackle Machine: Alessandro Izekor (Benetton Rugby)
Turnover King: Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby)
Gilbert Golden Boot: Chris Smith (Vodacom Bulls)
OFX Top Try Scorer: Johnny Matthews (Glasgow Warriors)
Ironman Award: Shane Daly (Munster Rugby)
Next-Gen Player of the Season: Jack Crowley (Munster Rugby)
Try of the Season Powered by URC.tv: Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
Elixirr Innovation Award: Benetton
Elite XV: 15 Warrick Gelant (DHL Stormers), 14 Jordan Larmour (Leinster Rugby), 13 Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), 12 Alex Nankivell (Munster Rugby), 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls); 10 Jack Crowley (Munster Rugby), 9 John Cooney (Ulster Rugby); 8 Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), 7 Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), 6 Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh); 5 Ruan Nortjé (Vodacom Bulls), 4 Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby); 3 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), 2 Akker van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls), 1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Vodacom URC Player of the Season: Sanele Nohamba (Emirates Lions)
Comments