Three South African rugby stars have just scooped major accolades in the Vodacom URC awards for the 2025-26 season, setting the stage ablaze with their exceptional skills and tenacity. Chris Smith, Quan Horn, and Evan Roos have been recognized just before the semi-finals, proving their mettle in a fiercely competitive league.
Lions' flyhalf Chris Smith clinched the Golden Boot award for the second time, having previously won it in 2024 with the Bulls. This season, he topped the charts with a whopping 149 points, thanks to 49 conversions and 17 penalties. Smith, reflecting on his success, emphasized the grind behind his glory. "You do really have to put the work in. It’s a daily work-on and you have to focus on the small things and the detail to be able to kick at a good percentage," he noted. His efforts were backed by Lions kicking coach Morné Steyn, who Smith regards as an invaluable mentor.
"You honestly couldn’t have a much better mentor,"
In another corner of the URC, Lions' fullback Quan Horn bagged the Ironman award, having not missed a single minute of the regular season. His ironclad performance spanned across 18 matches, clocking in at 1,440 minutes. Horn shared his thoughts on the relentless pursuit of excellence. "As a player, being part of the match 23 ignites confidence knowing you are backed week in and week out," he said.
Stormers' No. 8 Evan Roos, meanwhile, took home the Top Try Scorer award with 12 tries under his belt during the league stage. John Dobson, Stormers' director of rugby, praised Roos for his passion and traditional approach to the game. "He's just a kid who enjoys rugby. He just wants the ball in his hands, he wants to play, he wants to tackle people," Dobson remarked.
"The tries are just a nice bonus for me,"
The ceremony wasn't just about individual brilliance. Other notable winners included Dragons lock Ben Carter, who earned the Tackle Machine title with a tackle success rate of 97.6% from over 150 tackles. Ospreys' flyhalf Jack Walsh was celebrated as the Playmaker of the season, impressing with his try assists, offloads, and defenders beaten.
The awards highlight not only the individual talents but also the depth and competitiveness of the Vodacom URC, setting a high bar for the players and enriching the rugby culture with each passing season.
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Three South African rugby stars have just scooped major accolades in the Vodacom URC awards for the 2025-26 season, setting the stage ablaze with their exceptional skills and tenacity. Chris Smith, Quan Horn, and Evan Roos have been recognized just before the semi-finals, proving their mettle in a fiercely competitive league.
Lions' flyhalf Chris Smith clinched the Golden Boot award for the second time, having previously won it in 2024 with the Bulls. This season, he topped the charts with a whopping 149 points, thanks to 49 conversions and 17 penalties. Smith, reflecting on his success, emphasized the grind behind his glory. "You do really have to put the work in. It’s a daily work-on and you have to focus on the small things and the detail to be able to kick at a good percentage," he noted. His efforts were backed by Lions kicking coach Morné Steyn, who Smith regards as an invaluable mentor.
"You honestly couldn’t have a much better mentor,"
In another corner of the URC, Lions' fullback Quan Horn bagged the Ironman award, having not missed a single minute of the regular season. His ironclad performance spanned across 18 matches, clocking in at 1,440 minutes. Horn shared his thoughts on the relentless pursuit of excellence. "As a player, being part of the match 23 ignites confidence knowing you are backed week in and week out," he said.
Stormers' No. 8 Evan Roos, meanwhile, took home the Top Try Scorer award with 12 tries under his belt during the league stage. John Dobson, Stormers' director of rugby, praised Roos for his passion and traditional approach to the game. "He's just a kid who enjoys rugby. He just wants the ball in his hands, he wants to play, he wants to tackle people," Dobson remarked.
"The tries are just a nice bonus for me,"
The ceremony wasn't just about individual brilliance. Other notable winners included Dragons lock Ben Carter, who earned the Tackle Machine title with a tackle success rate of 97.6% from over 150 tackles. Ospreys' flyhalf Jack Walsh was celebrated as the Playmaker of the season, impressing with his try assists, offloads, and defenders beaten.
The awards highlight not only the individual talents but also the depth and competitiveness of the Vodacom URC, setting a high bar for the players and enriching the rugby culture with each passing season.