Johannesburg – Warren Whiteley was named the 2014 Player of the Year at the annual Golden Lions Rugby Union Player (GLRU) Awards.
The union honoured the Springbok capping of three players in 2014 that included Whiteley, Julian Redelinghuys and Marnitz Boshoff.
Whiteley, Kwagga Smith, Ruhan Nel and Mark Richards all represented South Africa in Sevens rugby in 2014, with Whiteley and Smith both having been a part of the gold medal-winning Commonwealth Games side.
The Senior Awards were dominated by the forwards with Armand van der Merwe walking away with the Most Improved Player of the Year award.
Loose forward Jaco Kriel was named the Forward Player of the Year, the Players' Player of the Year and was also awarded the Supporters' Player of the Year Award.
Lionel Mapoe walked away with the Senior Backline Player of the Year, while flyhalf Jaco van der Walt won most improved Backline Player.
Award winners:
Under 19 Forward Player of the Year: Marnus Erasmus
Under 19 Backline Player of the Year: Godfrey Ramaboea
Under 19 Player of the Year: Gerdus van der Walt
Under 21 Forward Player of the Year: Malcolm Marx
Under 21 Backline Player of the Year: Harold Vorster
Under 21 Player of the Year: Harold Vorster
Senior Forward Player of the Year: Jaco Kriel
Senior Most Improved Forward Player of the Year: Armand van der Merwe
Senior Backline Player of the Year: Lionel Mapoe
Senior Most Improved Backline Player of the Year: Jaco van der Walt
Supporters' Player of the Year: Jaco Kriel
Senior Players' Player of the Year: Jaco Kriel
Senior Player of the Year: Warren Whiteley
Referee of the Year: Lesego 'Pro' Legoete. – Sapa