The Vodacom United Rugby Championship Dream Team for the 2021-22 season has been unveiled and is packed with standout South African performers.
Following the addition of the Vodacom Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers to the competition for the inaugural URC campaign, South African franchises account for 10 members of a 15-man selection determined by a media vote.
The Stormers are the best-represented side with five players making the cut, with the URC’s Top Try-Scorer winner Leolin Zas among four backs from the Cape outfit included.
The Bulls contribute three players, including captain Marcell Coetzee and the URC Ironman winner Ruan Nortje, and the Sharks with two representatives in skipper Thomas du Toit and fellow prop Ox Nche.
Ulster duo Nick Timoney and James Hume, Leinster flyhalf Ross Byrne and Munster scrumhalf Craig Casey and SA-born Ireland lock Jean Kleyn make up the non-South African contingent.
Players had to have made a minimum of nine appearances to be considered, with the media panel given a shortlist of 10 players per position. The player with the most votes in each position earned a place in the team.
Ulster’s Alan O’Connor (Tackle Machine) and Ospreys pair Jac Morgan (Turnover King) and Gareth Anscombe (Gilbert Golden Boot) scooped the other accolades already handed out. The Next-Gen Star of the Season will be announced later this week while Vodacom Fans’ Player of the Season, the Loch Lomond Coach of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season will be crowned in the buildup to the grand final.
URC Dream Team:
1 Ox Nche (Sharks)
2 Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls)
3 Thomas du Toit (Sharks)
4 Jean Kleyn (Munster)
5 Ruan Nortje (Bulls)
6 Marcell Coetzee (Bulls)
7 Nick Timoney (Ulster)
8 Evan Roos (Stormers)
9 Craig Casey (Munster)
10 Ross Byrne (Leinster)
11 Leolin Zas (Stormers)
12 Damian Willemse (Stormers)
13 James Hume (Ulster)
14 Seabelo Senatla (Stormers)
15 Warrick Gelant (Stormers)
