Stormers bruiser locks in URC award

Ruben van Heerden has been crowned the Vodacom URC’s Tackle Machine for 2024-25, highlighting his superb defensive impact for the Stormers this season.

The award celebrates the best defender among players who made at least 150 tackles this season, marking Van Heerden as one of South Africa’s top performers heading into the URC semi-finals.

The towering lock topped the charts with 171 tackles at a staggering 98% success rate, edging out Glasgow’s Rory Darge (160 tackles, 97%) and Sharks loose forward Phepsi Buthelezi (157 tackles, 96.8%).

Stormers fans have more to cheer about, with winger Leolin Zas sharing the Top Try Scorer title (nine tries) alongside Cardiff’s Harri Millard and Munster’s Tom Farrell, though Millard ultimately claimed the prize by scoring his nine tries in the fewest minutes played.

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Fullback Warrick Gelant also featured strongly, finishing second in the Playmaker Award standings. Gelant’s creativity and offloads helped him push Munster’s Tom Farrell, who took top honours thanks to his combined tally of try assists (5), offloads (41) and defenders beaten (61).

The Sharks were represented on the leaderboard through flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse, who finished second in the Golden Boot category with 108 points, while Lions fullback Quan Horn claimed third in the Playmaker Award race.

These awards come as the URC celebrates its standout players before naming the prestigious Elite XV, Next-Gen Player of the Season, Coach of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season later this week.

URC 2024-25 awards winners
Golden Boot: Ioan Lloyd (Scarlets)
Top Try Scorer: Harri Millard (Cardiff)
Tackle Machine: Ruben van Heerden (Stormers)
Ironman: Cam Winnett (Cardiff)
Playmaker: Tom Farrell (Munster)

Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images