Fourie humbled

HE is humble about being honoured, but even Fourie du Preez had to admit that he deserved to be named SA Rugby’s player of the year, and that he can surely now be considered the best scrumhalf in the world.

‘It’s an incredible year. I don’t think we’ll experience anything like that again and that is why the award was extra special,’ Du Preez said on Monday night after collecting the award in Johannesburg.The Bok scrumhalf also received the award in 2006 and then struggled with all the accolades. However, a Super 14 title, series win over the British and Irish Lions, a Tri-Nations title and the Blue Bulls’ Currie Cup triumph leaves him with no choice other than to admit that he made a major contribution in 2009.Full list of Award winners:SA Rugby Player of the Year – Fourie du Preez (Vodacom Blue Bulls)Players’ Player of the Year – Morné Steyn (Vodacom Blue Bulls)SA Rugby Young Player of the Year – Heinrich Brüssow (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs)Test player of the Castle South Africa 2009 Lions Series – Morné Steyn (Vodacom Blue Bulls)Provincial player of the Castle South Africa 2009 Lions Series – Heinrich Brüssow (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs) SA Rugby Team of the Year – The SpringboksAbsa Coach of the Year – Peter de VilliersVodacom Super 14 Player of the Year – Morné Steyn (Vodacom Bulls) Absa Curie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year – Luke Watson (Vodacom Western Province) Absa Curie Cup First Division Player of the Year – Allistair Kettledas (Pumas)SuperSport Try of the Year – Jaque Fourie, 2nd test v British & Irish Lions (Loftus Versfeld)Sasol Sevens Player of the Year – Frankie HorneSA Under-20 Player of the Year – Lionel Cronjé (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs)Vodacom Cup Player of the Year – Jonathan Mokuena (GWK Griquas) SAA Club Champs Player of the Year – Dustin Jinka (Hamilton) SA Rugby Women’s Rugby Achiever of the Year – Saloma Booysen (Eastern Province) Marriott Refereeing Achievement of the Year – Jonathan Kaplan. Coca-Cola Craven Week Player of the Tournament – Andile Jho (Border) – Supersport