Julian Redelinghuys was named the Lions' Player of the Year for 2016 at an awards evening at Carnival City in Johannesburg on Wednesday night.
Redelinghuys’ career was abruptly halted when he suffered a serious neck injury in the Lions' Currie Cup semi-final in Bloemfontein last year, and while he hopes to make a return to action, there are still medical opinions that need to be considered before his recovery is complete.
Despite his injury scare at the end of last year, Redelinghuys enjoyed a stellar 2016 season in which he starred for the Lions in Super Rugby, while going on to earn a further six Test caps.
Meanwhile, Lions captain Warren Whiteley, who started in 10 Tests last year, was named Super Rugby Player of the Year, with newcomer Jacques Nel walking away with the Currie Cup Player of the Year accolade.
Look back at a 2016 tribute to Whiteley:
Whiteley pipped Elton Jantjies, who was elected Backline Player of the Year in Super Rugby, while Franco Mostert was named the Forward of the Year in the same competition.
Watch some of Jantjies' highlights from 2016:
Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx collected the Players’ Player of the Year award, and new Bok centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg was voted the supporters' Player of the Year.
Anthony Volminck bagged the Backline Player of the Currie Cup accolade, while Ruan Ackermann was elected the Currie Cup Forward of the Year.
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Winners:
Player of the Year: Julian Redelinghuys
Super Rugby Player of the Year: Warren Whiteley:
Super Rugby Forward of the Year: Franco Mostert
Super Rugby Backline Player of the Year: Elton Jantjies
Currie Cup Player of the Year: Jacques Nel
Currie Cup Forward of the Year: Ruan Ackermann
Currie Cup Backline Player of the Year: Anthony Volmink:
Supporters' Player of the Year: Rohan Janse van Rensburg
Players' Player of the Year: Malcolm Marx
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images