The Lions' tail may still be in a knot but their star backrower, Joe van Niekerk, scooped the prestigious South African Player of the Year Award on Thursday night.
Van Niekerk, who was honoured at a gala function in Sandton, beat provincial teammates Jannes Labuschagne, Lawrence Sephaka, Andre Pretorius, as well as Western Province's Werner Greeff to the award.
Van Niekerk consistently impressed as a ball carrier for the Springboks and the Lions this season and was a clear winner with the judges.
Although Van Niekerk was injured for most of the second half of the season the impact he made in the first was sufficient to earn him the award.
There was, however, some respite for Sephaka who was recognised with the Players' Player of the Year Award.
The Promising Player of the Year went to Blue Bulls flanker Pedrie Wannenburg. He pipped Jaque Fourie (Lions), Brent Russell (Pumas), Hanyani Shimange (Cheetahs) and Derick Hougaard (Blue Bulls) to the title.
Springbok fullback Greeff won the SuperSport Try of the Year Award for his match-winning touchdown against the Wallabies at Ellis Park.
The Super 12 Player of the Tournament was won by Springbok and Stormers captain Corne Krige, while Free State Cheetahs flyhalf Kennedy Tsimba was crowned the Currie Cup Player of the Tournament. Tsimba scored the most points and the most tries in the competition.
Springbok and Pumas star Russell was awarded the Sevens Player of the Year Award for his performances during the 2001/
2002 IRB Series, where he was top try scorer and chosen as the International Sevens Player of the Year.
Shimlas and Free State flyhalf Conrad Barnard was the SuperSport Club Championships Player of the Tournament.
The Craven Week Player of the Tournament Award went to Western Province and SA Schools backliner Earl Rose, while the Vodacom Cup Player of the Tournament was handed to Bulls' flanker Denzil Frans.
The Refereeing Achievement of the Year Award was won by Eugene Daniels, who refereed several World Cup qualifiers and officiated at the Commonwealth Games Sevens in Manchester.
The Women's Rugby Achiever of the Year was presented to Tania Herwill of the Falcons. Herwill was instrumental in the establishment of women's rugby in South Africa, particularly with the "Falconettes", who won this year's Women's Inter-Provincial in Port Elizabeth.
Retiring Springboks Mark Andrews and Andre Venter received Achievement Awards for Service to the game, while Springbok Sevens coach Chester Williams was recognised for his contribution to SA Rugby.