Theron awarded again as Wanderers celebrates

Jacques Theron, after being promoted to first-team captain this year, won FNB Wanderers Rugby Club’s sportman of the year award for the third time in four years on Friday night.

The 25-year-old scrumhalf led the White Stallions to the NRU premier league title this year, when they overpowered FNB Unam 45-20 to earn back the celebrations after the previous year’s dramatic late loss in the final against Trustco United (29-30).

All three of Wanderers’ teams progressed to the finals in 2024, but the women were defeated by unbeaten Unam Steenbokkies, while the second team could not stop FNB Kudus’ second team from taking the NRU reserve league trophy to Walvis Bay.

Theron played in the final despite a leg injury from the previous week’s 49-24 semi-final win against Kudus, leading his charges to beat Unam by another impressive margin.

“I don’t have much to say, except that it is always a privilege to be wearing the Wanderers number 9 jersey,” Theron said in response to the award.

For head coach Dirk Human’s men’s first team, it was a memorable year, marked by the emergence of speedsters like Jurgen Meyer, Tolley Tjipute and Natie Janse van Rensburg making their mark barely a year or two out of school.

Meyer was named the players’ player of the year, after scoring 13 tries in 15 matches this season, according to the club’s statistics.

At the top of the club’s try-scoring chart, however, was veteran wing Nandi Karuuombe with 17 finishes in 14 matches. Players such as Tjipute (six tries in 16 matches), Van Rensburg (five tries in 10 matches) and hooker Obert Nortje (ten tries in ten matches) were also among the many contributors to the team efforts during vital stages of the season.

Fly-half André van der Berg (the club’s sportsman of the year in 2022) was a big factor early in the 2024 season, racking up 117 points (three tries) in the first seven matches, before departing to join French club Limoges.

However, Wanderers later welcomed back Denzo Bruwer from a season of club rugby in Poland. Bruwer then scored at an even more rapid rate than Van der Berg on his way to 98 points in just five matches (four tries), including a vital 18 in the final.

Following Wanderers’ season in the NRU women’s 15s league, loose-forward Lourencia Rooinasie was named sportswoman of the year. A highlight was their semi-final against United, Gemsbokkies when they shocked the favourites 28-24 with a late comeback.



MEN’S AWARDS

Forward of the year: Sheron Rossouw (flank).

Backline player of the year: Nandivatu Karuuombe (wing).

Most loyal player: Johan Meyer (lock).

Junior player of the year: Jurgen Meyer (wing).

Most committed player: Tareekuye “Tolley” Tjipute (full-back).

Most consistent player: Obert Nortje (hooker).

Emerging player of the year: Natie Janse van Rensburg (wing, centre).

Second team player of the year: Richard Mupewa (loose forward).

Second team most improved: Jonathan “Sparkplug” Hanekom (centre).

Supporter of the year: Brigitte Augustyn.

Players’ player of the year: Jurgen Meyer (wing).

Sportsman of the year: Jacques Theron (scrumhalf).



WOMEN’S RUGBY :

Junior player of the year: Elizabeth Ugulu (scrumhalf).

Emerging player of the year: Naemy Haindongo (flank).

Most committed player of the year: Mandie van Staden (fly-half, first-team captain).

Backline player of the year: Gabriella Jahs (centre).

Forward of the year: Dephne Buseko (tighthead prop).

Sportswoman of the year: Lourencia Rooinasie (nr 8/flank).