The coveted Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) Player of the Season Award for 2024 has its finalists: a dynamic duo from the Vodacom Bulls and a versatile star from the Emirates Lions.

The three nominees, all hailing from Gauteng province, received the most votes from a selection panel comprising Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus, coaches from the four South African franchises, and local media.

Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls):

• The 27-year-old fullback has been in top form, showcasing his speed with 15 clean breaks and scoring 8 tries.
• Skilled in fielding high kicks in both attack and defense, Arendse has also impressed with his defensive tackling.

Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls):

• This 22-year-old former Junior Springbok star has been a revelation at No. 8 for the Bulls.
• Hanekom shines as a ball carrier and defender, ranking second overall for offloads (22) and sixth for turnovers won (13).

Sanele Nohamba (Emirates Lions):

• The versatile 25-year-old Nohamba has been a valuable asset for the Lions, playing both scrumhalf and flyhalf.
• He has also proven to be a reliable kicker, converting 32 conversions, 14 penalty goals, and a drop goal, contributing 119 points overall (4th in the league).

The winner will be announced on Tuesday, 18 June, as part of the ongoing Vodacom URC Awards for the season.

Picture courtesy of SARU