De Villiers scoops top gong

De villiers: Top award

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Springbok centre Jean de Villiers was named SA Rugby Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year at an annual awards banquet.

The 27-year-old Western Province player was the clear winner in a poll of South African rugby journalists for the SA Rugby Player of the Year title ahead of four players from the Sharks - Bismarck du Plessis, Adrian Jacobs, Ryan Kankowski and Beast Mtawarira.

De Villiers completed a memorable double as he was also awarded the prestigious Players' Player of the Year Award, voted for by members of the South African Rugby Players Association - the first man to complete the double since Ashwin Willemse won both in the 2003 season.

Ryan Kankowski's outstanding year was recognised with four nominations, although he had to settle for just one award as the Sharks number eight was chosen Super 14 Player of the Year.

He was also nominated for Young Player of the Year and Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year as well as for the main award.

His back row colleague, Jean Deysel, also had his devastating form in the Sharks' run to the title recognised when he was named Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year.

All the SA Rugby Award winners

SA Rugby Player of the Year

Winner: Jean de Villiers (Western Province)

Also nominated: Bismarck du Plessis, Adrian Jacobs, Ryan Kankowski, Beast Mtawarira (all Sharks).

Young Player of the Year

Winner: Robert Ebersohn (Free State Cheetahs)

Also nominated: Heinrich Brüssow (Free State Cheetahs), Ryan Kankowski, (Sharks), Nick Köster (Western Province), Beast Mtawarira (Sharks).

Players' Player of the Year

Winner: Jean de Villiers (Western Province)

Team of the Year

Winner: Sharks (Super 14 team)

Also nominated: Leopards, Sharks (Currie Cup team), Blue Bulls, Stormers.

Coach of the Year

Winner: John Plumtree (Sharks, Absa Currie Cup)

Also nominated: Eugene Eloff (Golden Lions), Rassie Erasmus (Stormers), Frans Ludeke (Blue Bulls). Chaka Willemse (Leopards).

Super 14 Player of the Year

Winner: Ryan Kankowski (Sharks)

Also nominated: Andries Bekker, Jean de Villiers, Conrad Jantjes (all Stormers), Rory Kockott (both Sharks).

Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year

(The outstanding player of the 2008 Absa Currie Cup Premier Division season)

Winner: Jean Deysel (Sharks)

Also nominated: Heinrich Brussow (Free State Cheetahs), Ryan Kankowski (both Sharks), Wynand Olivier (Blue Bulls), Stefan Terblanché (Sharks).

Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year

Winner: Kennedy Tsimba (Griffons).

Also nominated: Cecil Afrika, (Griffons), Clayton Durand (Leopards), Ashley Johnson (Griffons), Vuyo Zangqa (Leopards).

Vodacom Cup Player of the Year

Winner: Burton Francis (Blue Bulls)

Also nominated: Isma-eel Dollie (Western Province), Rocco Jansen (Blue Bulls), Ashley Johnson and Wilton Pietersen (both Free State Cheetahs).

Try of the Year

Winner: Ricky Januarie (SA v New Zealand, Dunedin)

Sevens Player of the Year

Winner: Renfred Deysel