Habana voted South Africa's top player

Updated November 02, 2012 09:17:44

Springbok wing Bryan Habana has named the South African rugby player of the year, becoming only the second man to win the award more than twice.

The 29-year-old, hampered by an injured knee, limped onto the stage with the help of crutches to accept the award for the third time after having also been voted number one by the rugby media in 2005 and 2007.

His striking form helped his team, the Cape Town-based Western Province, win the Currie Cup last Saturday, while his seven tries for the national side in 2012 bring his national record tally to 47.

Habana's hat-trick against Australia in Pretoria in September brought the home team a 31-8 victory in the Rugby Championship.

He also was recognised for Try of the Year after bursting past the All Blacks defence to score in Dunedin, also in September.

"It's a very humbling experience," he said, accepting the award after doubt had previously been cast on his performances.

"I never really doubted myself but when these questions come about you just have to work harder," he added.

"Hopefully I'll leave the jersey in a better place than I received it."

Habana's three player of the year awards are second only to former Springbok fly-half Naas Botha. Now a television analyst with the Johannesburg-based SuperSport channel, Botha won the award four times.

Habana, whose first names were inspired by former Manchester United footballers Bryan Robson and Gary Bailey, received the accolade at the awards ceremony in a Cape Town International Airport hangar, five days after helping his side claim the Currie Cup title for the first time in 11 years.

Western Province's Eben Etzebeth, Sharks fly-half Patrick Lambie and teammates JP Pietersen and skipper Keegan Daniel were the other finalists.

The Sharks won the Team of the Year title after reaching both Currie Cup and Super 15 finals, with awards also for captain and loose forward Daniel (Super 15 Player of the Year), Pietersen (Players' Player of the Year) and coach John Plumtree.

New Springbok lock Etzebeth won the poll for Young Player of the Year after the 21-year-old's sterling performance in Tests against New Zealand, Australia, England and Argentina barely 18 months after playing in university leagues.

South African award winners:

Player of the Year: Bryan Habana (Western Province)

Players' Player of the Year: JP Pietersen (Sharks)

Super 15 Player of the Year: Keegan Daniel (Sharks)

Currie Cup Player of the Year: Deon Fourie (Western Province)

Young Player of the Year: Eben Etzebeth

Coach of the Year: John Plumtree (Sharks)

Team of the Year: Sharks

AFP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, south-africa

First posted November 02, 2012 09:17:44

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Former Rebels player collapses during match

Updated October 20, 2012 19:23:59

Former Melbourne Rebels player Hoani MacDonald collapsed with a suspected heart attack in a New Zealand championship match on Saturday.

The 34-year-old middle-rower required vigorous CPR treatment for more than five minutes before he could be moved from the field and rushed to hospital in the town of Pukekohe.

"Macdonald was taken by ambulance from ECOLight Stadium to Middlemore Hospital," a New Zealand Rugby Union statement said.

"He has been put in an induced coma and is stable."

MacDonald, a former New Zealand Junior and New Zealand Maori representative, was playing for Southland against Counties-Manukau in a semi-final match when he collapsed midway through the first half.

A Southland team spokesman said it was not known whether he collapsed during an incident on or off the ball, but spectators said MacDonald was treated for a suspected cardiac arrest after he fell clutching his chest.

In 2008, MacDonald left New Zealand to play for Welsh side Newport Gwent Dragons before moving to Australia in 2011 to play Super Rugby for the Rebels.

AFP/Reuters

Tags: rugby-union, sport, new-zealand

First posted October 20, 2012 16:52:18

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Fiji Rugby Union board concerned about player sanctions

Last Updated: Tue, 24 May 2011 16:32:00 +1000

The Fiji Rugby Union has called on the International Rugby Board to relocate the Sevens World Series away from Australia and New Zealand.

The Fiji Rubgy Union (FRU) board has written to the world rugby body, voicing Fiji's concern about sanctions being placed on players with connections to the Fiji Military Force.

The FRU says the national side's performance in London over the weekend showed that when Fiji Rugby is able to select players on merit, they perform well.

Australia and New Zealand imposed heavy travel sanctions on Fiji following the coup in which Commodore Frank Bainimarama seized power in 2006.

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