Watch: Liebenberg, Wiese win big at Tigers awards

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Former Junior Springbok captain Hanro Liebenberg and Springbok squad member Jasper Wiese both picked up awards at the Leicester Tigers Supporters’ Awards for the 2020-21 season.

Liebenberg was named Player of the Year after topping the online poll among Tigers fans after being nominated for the club’s top prize alongside Ellis Genge and Nemani Nadolo, Harry Wells, fellow South African Wiese, and young guns Dan Kelly and Freddie Steward.

The 25-year-old made 21 appearances for Tigers during the 2020-21 campaign, including 20 starts, and scored three tries.

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‘I didn’t expect it but I am truly humbled and honoured,’ said Liebenberg after receiving the award. ‘I am absolutely humbled by it, thank you to everyone who voted.’

Liebenberg joins an illustrious list of Player of the Year award winners including England flyhalf George Ford, ex-Argentina prop Marcos Ayerza, former Ireland fullback Geordan Murphy, and England legends Neil Back, Martin Corry and Martin Johnson.

Wiese, meanwhile, was named the Newcomer of the Year at the awards ceremony. The loose forward beat competition including Matías Moroni, Nemani Nadolo, Richard Wigglesworth and Harry Potter to top the online voting.

The former Cheetahs eighthman made his Tigers debut in the opening round of the Premiership season and went on to complete the campaign with 20 senior appearances, earning the coveted players’ tie after the closing-day win away to Wasps in round 22.

The powerful forward capped his debut season for Leicester as the club’s top try-scorer and earned selection in the Springbok squad for the first time ahead of the British & Irish Lions series.

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‘It’s very nice, I am humbled by this,’ said Wiese of the award. ‘I haven’t had awards like this at the clubs I have played at before, so to get it is very nice and I am grateful to fans who voted.’

‘To be honest, I thought I would come over [to England] and have to settle in and try to earn a chance to play. I never expected anything to happen so quickly.’

Speaking about his inclusion in the Bok squad, the typically humble Wiese quickly shifted the focus from himself to those who have helped him along his journey.

‘It meant the world to me, of course,’ said Wiese of the call-up. ‘I had a few difficult years before coming to Tigers and the reward of that shows what you get if you put in that hard work.

‘But, honestly, I can’t take all of the credit for it at all, it is all the people around me and who have supported me and helped make me better.’

‘I will focus on working hard to get a start and making sure I am not settling because I have got in to that squad,’ added Wiese. ‘I want to start for South Africa.’

Photo: Pat Elmont/Getty Images

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SA Rugby magazine