Cape Town - Springbok and Western Province centre Damian de Allende was the big winner at the 2015 Western Province Rugby Football Union Awards evening, which was held at Newlands on Tuesday.
De Allende, who is currently on Rugby World Cup duty with the Boks, won two big WP Rugby awards on Tuesday night - the WP Best Back Award and the coveted WP Players' Player of the Year Award, as voted for by his peers.
France-bound loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff was voted the WP Forward of the Year, after a brilliant Super Rugby campaign catapulted him into Springbok contention, with hooker Bongi Mbonambi (Most Promising Senior Forward) and utility back Dillyn Leyds (Most Promising Senior Back) also being rewarded for their consistent performances in 2015.
Scrumhalf Nic Groom, who took over the Currie Cup captaincy at one point this season, remains the ultimate team man and his contributions in 2015 did not go unnoticed as he walked away with the MVP Award, previous winners being Deon Fourie (2012), Duane Vermeulen (2013) and Nizaam Carr (2014).
At junior level, meanwhile, DHL WP Under-19 stars, Michael Kumbirai (Best Forward), Eduan Keyter (Best Back) and Duncan Saal (Most Promising), all won awards, whilst Frans van Wyk (Best Forward), Ryno Eksteen (Best Back) and Leolin Zas (Most Promising) the big winners in the Under-21 age-group.
Individual award winners: WP Women's Player of the Year: Chane Stadler WP Schools' Player of the Year: Damian Willemse WP 7's Player of the year: Josh Bassingthwaighte WP Under-19 Best Forward: Michael Kumbirai WP U19 Best Back: Eduan Keyter WP Most Promising U19 Player: Duncan Saal WP Under-21 Best Forward: Frans van Wyk WP U21 Best Back: Ryno Eksteen WP Most Promising U21 Player: Leolin Zas WP Best Forward: Steven Kitshoff WP Best Back: Damian de Allende WP Most Promising Senior Forward: Bongi Mbonambi WP Most Promising Senior Back: Dillyn Leyds Clubs' Player of the Year: Guy Alexander DHL WP Referee of the Year: Marius Van Der Westhuizen Adidas MVP Award: Nic Groom DHL WP Players' Player of the Year: Damian de Allende - ANA