The lions have some players to watch. Britz at 7 is a great prospect. Minne and Kriel are ggod uns. I also like Volmink and will watch his progress with interest
Ex Supersport
Golden Lions captain Franco van der Merwe capped off a great 2013 year when he added the Lions Player of the year title to the Springbok cap he earned earlier this year.
Van der Merwe, who made his debut against the All Blacks at Ellis Park after months on the fringes of the Bok squad, was named the Lions player of the year in 2013 at an awards function on Tuesday night.
The Lions, who fought their way back into Vodacom Super Rugby in 2013, also won the Vodacom Cup and their crucial promotion-relegation matches against the Southern Kings to join the elite ranks again.
Van der Merwe was awarded a commemorative GLRU blazer as he also celebrated 100 caps for the Golden Lions in October this year.
The other awards went to well-deserving players who had played their part in a tough season with winger Anthony Volminck taking the backline player of the year and Currie Cup captain Derick Minnie taking the Forward of the year prize.
Willie Britz – he of the hairstyle that drew comparisons with a Lion’s main – was a popular choice in the inaugural Supporters’ Player of the year award, with over 2000 votes cast via the Lions website.
Another loose forward – Jaco Kriel – took the Players’ Player of the year award while prop Jacques van Rooyen was the recipient of the Most Improved player of the year award.
In the U19 age group, Malcolm Marx walked away with the U19 Forward of the Year award, while Koch Marx was named the U19 Backline Player of the Year. Cyle Brink walked away with the 2013 U19 Player of the Year award.
Meanwhile, in the U21 age group, Steph de Wit was announced as the U21 Forward Player of the Year, flyhalf Marais Schmidt was named U21 Backline Player of the Year and Ruaan Lerm shone as the overall U21 Player of the Year.
THE FULL LIST OF AWARD WINNERS IS AS FOLLOWS:
U19 Forward Player of the Year
Malcolm Marx
U19 Backline Player of the Year
Koch Marx
U19 Player of the Year
Cyle Brink
U21 Forward Player of the Year
Steph de Wit
U21 Backline Player of the Year
Marais Schmidt
U21 Player of the Year
Ruaan Lerm
Senior Most Improved Player of the Year
Jacques van Rooyen
Senior Players’ Player of the Year
Jaco Kriel
Senior Supporters’ Player of the Year
Willie Britz
Senior Forward Player of the Year
Derick Minnie
Senior Backline Player of the Year
Anthony Volmink
Senior Player of the Year
Franco van der Merwe
