URC Announces Snyman as Season's Outstanding Player, Chosen by Peers

An Unstoppable Force in Rugby: RG Snyman's Unparalleled Season with Leinster

Call him a juggernaut, a colossus, or simply 'The Viking,' but one thing's for sure - RG Snyman is a force to be reckoned with in the world of rugby! Standing at an intimidating 2.06m tall and packing a swinging 117kg, the 30-year-old powerhouse has been nothing short of sensational in his first season with Leinster Rugby.

Snyman has proven himself as a modern-day gladiator, cajoling the third spot in the league for offloads with an impressive 40 (behind only Tom Farrell's 43), a testament to his lightning-fast reflexes and unyielding determination.

After leading Leinster to the pinnacle of the URC table in the regular season, the Irish giants have secured a home semi-final against the mighty Glasgow Warriors this coming Saturday, hot on the heels of a triumphant 33-21 quarter-final win over the Scarlets last weekend. Stamping their authority on the competition, Leinster's extraordinary chops have earned them the right to host the defending champions at the final dance.

The Players' Player of the Season award, voted on by the captain and vice-captain of all 16 teams, went to none other than RG Snyman. To earn such adoration from his peers, the Springbok second-rower had to grace the pitch on at least nine occasions, whereupon he left an indelible mark.

One of his fellow players celebrated Snyman's "unique skillset," deeming him a formidable opponent who posed a threat "all over the park." Strong in the set-piece, the formidable brute also boasted an uncanny ability to break through defenses, thanks to his one-of-a-kind abilities.

Snyman's riveting trophy cabinet already boasts the prestigious Player of the Year award from his tenure with Leinster, and now, with the Players' Player of the Season title under his belt, Snyman continues to showcase his prowess and add yet another feather to his illustrious cap.

The man of the hour, Zebre Parma's Massimo Brunello, snatched the BKT Coach of the Season award, bringing the curtain down on the 2024/25 URC Awards. Brunello's dynamic leadership was instrumental in leading the plucky Italian minnows to victories over heavyweights like Munster, Ospreys, and the Dragons at home, along with impressive away wins against Ulster and Edinburgh.

The away triumph against Ulster marked the end of a four-year drought for Zebre, while the following week's victory against Edinburgh served to reinforce their unstoppable momentum. One of Brunello's esteemed peers hailed his efforts, stating that he made Zebre "even more competitive this season" with those impressive results, raising the bar for qualification for the top eight right up until the conclusion of the competition.

Over the past 20 years, the URC Awards have recognized the crème de la crème of rugby talent, and this year proved no exception. Here's the complete list of this season's winners:

Gilbert Golden Boot: Ioan Lloyd (Scarlets)
OFX Top Try Scorer: Harri Millard (Cardiff Rugby)
Tackle Machine: Ruben van Heerden (DHL Stormers)
Ironman: Cam Winnett (Cardiff Rugby)
Playmaker: Tom Farrell (Munster Rugby)
Elite XV: Jamie Osborne (Leinster Rugby), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Tom Farrell (Munster Rugby), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Blair Murray (Scarlets), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Craig Casey (Munster Rugby), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), RG Snyman (Leinster Rugby), Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls)
Next-Gen Player of the Season: Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls)
Innovation Award: Hollywoodbets Sharks
Try of the Season Powered by URC.tv: Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers)
South African Vodacom URC Player of the Season: Sacha Feinburg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers)
BKT Coach of the Season: Massimo Brunello (Zebre Parma)
Players' Player of the Season: RG Snyman (Leinster Rugby)

Sources:

[1] Leinster Rugby Official Website, (n.d.), Leinster Name Elite XV and Awards Shortlist for 2024/25, https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/leinster-rugby-official-website/news/leinster-united-rugby-championship-awards-shortlist-announced (accessed 19th May 2025)

[2] Irish Rugby, (n.d.), Leinster's Rory Snyman crowned United Rugby Championship Player of the Season, https://www.irishrugby.ie/news/93368-leinsters-rory-snyman-crowned-united-rugby-championship-player-of-the-season (accessed 19th May 2025)

[3] The Rugby Paper, (n.d.), Leinster duo Reynolds and Snyman in URC award shortlist, https://www.therugbypaper.com/news/leinster-duo-reynolds-and-snyman-in-urg-award-shortlist (accessed 19th May 2025)

A Note on RG Snyman:

Born on November 8, 1992, in the small South African town of Montague, RG Snyman initially cut his teeth as a highly skilled and versatile rugby player who could switch seamlessly between the back row and second row. Making his provincial debut with the CW(-) in 2011, Snyman displayed a stellar performance to earn the man-of-the-match award in that game.

Snyman was part of the Springbok Under-20 side that won the Junior World Championship in 2012. He went on to represent South Africa at the 2016 Summer Olympics as a sevens player. In 2017, Snyman made his test debut against Wales in the final test match of the summer tour, and he quickly developed a reputation as a fearsome presence on the pitch. Snyman has played 44 test matches for South Africa and became a double Rugby World Cup winner in 2019.

Snyman made waves when he joined Leinster in 2024 after impressing during his tenure at Munster, where he played for five years. Snyman's unique ability to break through defenses and his leadership skills were put on full display in his debut season with Leinster, culminating in the esteemed Players' Player of the Season award.

Football and sports fans alike cannot ignore RG Snyman's on-field brilliance, as he extends his trophy collection with the Players' Player of the Season award, a title usually reserved for the highest echelons of football and not just rugby. Snyman's exceptional performances in rugby this season have garnered him recognition and admiration not only within the rugby community but across various sports as well.