Andre the Giant among top winners at annual Sharks Awards banquet
RUGBY AWARDS
Sharks centre Andre Esterhuizen was voted Players’ Player of the Year by his teammates for his leadership, consistency and influence throughout the season.
Image: BackpagePix
Sharks captain Andre Esterhuizen and hard-working lock Emile van Heerden were big winners at the annual Sharks Player Awards evening held at the Sun Sibaya Casino outside Durban on Tuesday evening.
While it has been a disappointing 2025/2026 season for the Durbanites, some individuals shone in the losing causes across the United Rugby Championship, Champions Cup, and the Currie Cup.
A silver lining to the mostly forgettable season is the exciting young talent bubbling through the system, alongside never-say-die senior players such as Esterhuizen, Vincent Tshituka, and Ox Nche.
Esterhuizen was voted Players’ Player of the Year by his teammates for his leadership, consistency and influence throughout the season, while Van Heerden received the prestigious Sharks Player of the Year award for his consistency and standout performances across both the URC and the Champions Cup.
Loose forward Phepsi Buthelezi enjoyed a standout season and scooped three awards on the night for his efforts (URC Player of the Season, Top Try Scorer, and the Fans Player of the Year), while Aphelele Fassi was recognised as the Champions Cup Player of the Season following several influential performances on the European stage.
The Sharks’ commitment to young player development was reinforced through the recognition of several rising stars, namely prop Phatu Ganyane, being honoured as the Breakthrough Player of the Year.
Sharks head coach JP Pietersen acknowledged that while the season presented its fair share of challenges, celebrating the individuals who continued to uphold the standards of the jersey remains important.
Phepsi Buthelezi took home three awards including the Fans Player of the Year.
Image: BackpagePix
“We are firmly focused on building for the future, we have belief in the talent emerging through the ranks and confidence in the collective determination within the Sharks family to get back on track and come back stronger during the 2026/2027 rugby season.”
2025/2026 Sharks Player Award Winners:
Sharks U19 Player of the Season – Hanu Pieterse
Sharks U21 Player of the Season – Jaco Williams
Sharks Currie Cup Player of the Season – Nick Hatton
Sharks URC Player of the Season – Phepsi Buthelezi
Sharks Champions Cup Player of the Season – Aphelele Fassi
Sharks Top Try Scorer – Phepsi Buthelezi
Sharks Breakthrough Player of the Year – Phatu Ganyane
Sharks Fans Player of the Year – Phepsi Buthelezi
Sharks Players’ Player of the Year – André Esterhuizen
Sharks Player of the Year – Emile van Heerden