Four Boks in race for URC’s young gun award

The Vodacom Bulls, Stormers and Lions account for six of 16 nominees in the running to be named Vodacom URC Next-Gen Player for the 2024-25 season.

The award is open to any players who were younger than 24 at the beginning of the campaign, made at least nine appearances and had earned no more than five Test caps at season’s launch.

Back-row powerhouse Cameron Hanekom, who made his Springbok debut last year, has been nominated with fellow Bok and Bulls bruiser Jan-Hendrik Wessels.

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Stormers stars Andre-Hugo Venter and Suleiman Hartzenberg, along with Lions backs Quan Horn and Henco van Wyk, make up the rest of the contingent from the Republic.

Wales also has six nominees, led by Scarlets trio Blair Murray, Ellis Mee and Macs Page, while statistical standouts – Zebre’s Simone Gesi leads the URC for clean breaks (22) and Cardiff’s Gabriel Hamer-Webb has scored seven tries – highlight the competition’s emerging talent across the five nations.

Full list of the nominees: Quan Horn, Henco van Wyk (both Lions), Cameron Hanekom, Jan-Hendrik Wessels (both Bulls), Andre-Hugo Venter, Suleiman Hartzenberg (both Stormers), Ellis Mee, Blair Murray, Macs Page (all Scarlets), Matt Currie, Paddy Harrison (both Edinburgh), Gabe Hamer-Webb (Cardiff), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Simone Gesi (Zebre), Aneurin Owen (Dragons), Dan Edwards (Ospreys).

Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images