In a season packed with rising stars and powerhouse performances, one player stood tallest in the South African rugby scene—Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. The DHL Stormers utility back has been named the 2024/25 South African Vodacom United Rugby Championship Player of the Season, capping off a sensational year that’s seen him become one of the most influential playmakers in the country.
This award adds to his earlier accolade as SA Rugby’s Young Player of the Year, further cementing the 23-year-old’s reputation as one of the brightest talents in the green and gold pipeline.
A Class Above
Feinberg-Mngomezulu beat out tough competition from fellow Springboks and URC standouts Cameron Hanekom and Wilco Louw of the Vodacom Bulls. His combination of attacking class, playmaking maturity, and precision goal-kicking made him an easy standout in the DHL Stormers’ campaign.
From pulling the strings at flyhalf to stepping up in the clutch with the boot, Feinberg-Mngomezulu was often the difference-maker in tight contests. His rise echoes the likes of previous winners Evan Roos, Manie Libbok, and Sanele Nohamba—players who’ve gone on to make major waves on the international stage.
“His ability to deliver quality performances consistently is a testament to the excellent player he is,” said SA Rugby President Mark Alexander. “He lit up the field this season and made a massive contribution to his team’s success on attack, scoring in every possible way.”
The Rise of a Bok Star
The former Junior Springbok captain made his senior Test debut last June against Wales at Twickenham. He has since earned eight Springbok caps and was a key figure in a dominant 2024 Test campaign that saw the Boks win 11 of 13 matches and claim the Castle Lager Rugby Championship crown.
His calm demeanour under pressure, tactical smarts, and silky skills made him a media and coach favourite in the URC’s annual awards voting process. Unsurprisingly, he was also named in the URC’s Elite XV of the season.
Elite XV Recognition
Feinberg-Mngomezulu joins a high-calibre group of players in the Elite XV—a media-selected lineup celebrating consistent excellence across the competition. He’s one of six South Africans on the list:
- Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls): Arguably the form tighthead in the URC, Louw started 15 of 16 matches and brought brute force and big work rate to the Bulls pack.
- Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls): Named Next-Gen Player of the Season, the 21-year-old loose forward was relentless across the park, helping the Bulls finish second on the URC table.
- Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks): A midfield wrecking ball, Esterhuizen continues to dominate both sides of the ball.
- Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) and RG Snyman (Leinster): Key cogs in the engine room with commanding physical presence.
- Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets): Former Cheetahs hooker who had a breakout season in Wales.
More SA Stars Shine
Veteran flanker Deon Fourie picked up Try of the Season for finishing off a dazzling DHL Stormers team try against the Scarlets—featuring offloads, dummy lines, and world-class footwork.
Meanwhile, lock Ruben van Heerden claimed the Tackle Machine Award after making 171 tackles at an eye-popping 98% success rate. He narrowly edged out Rory Darge and Phepsi Buthelezi in a tightly contested metric-based award.
And off the pitch, the Hollywoodbets Sharks scooped the Innovation Award for SharksFest—a fan-focused, matchday experience praised for pushing the boundaries of digital engagement and community impact.
South African Rugby’s Future Looks Bright
From the rise of young talents like Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Hanekom to the seasoned excellence of Louw and Esterhuizen, South African rugby is thriving in the URC. And with the Bulls and Sharks set to square off in a blockbuster semi-final at Loftus this weekend, Mzansi fans can expect more fireworks before the curtain falls on another thrilling season.
