For a third year in a row the Springbok centre, Venter, was named as the Cheetahs Rugby Player of the Year. He also walked away with the Harold Verster Backline Player of the Year award.

Henco Venter, who has just returned to the playing field following a long injury lay-off, was honoured by his peers and named as the Cheetahs Players’ Player of the Year. His outstanding play during the Currie Cup also saw him being named as the Currie Cup Player of the Year.

The Namibian international hooker, Torsten van Jaarsveld, who regularly leads the team in the absence of Venter and was also a serious contender for the Player of the Year award, was named as the best forward during the season and he received the Prof. Basie Verster Forward Player of the Year award.

Van Jaarsveld's fellow Namibian international, Aranos Coetzee, collected the award for the Super Rugby Player of the Year.

A capping ceremony also took place in which Rynier Bernardo, Joseph Dweba, Elandré Huggett, Makazole Mapimpi, Zee Mkhabela, Rosco Specman, Jasper Wiese and Clinton Swart were all officially capped as Cheetahs players.

Francois Venter, Charles Marais, Clayton Blommetjies, Shaun Venter, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Fred Zeilinga and Ox Nche, were all honoured for their 50th caps, while the now-retired JW Jonker received his 100th Cheetahs cap.

Full Awards:

U19 Toyota Free State Cheetahs Player of the Year – Athenkosi Halom

U21 Toyota Free State Cheetahs Player of the Year – Dian Badenhorst

Toyota Free State XV Currie Cup Player of the Year – Sibabalo Qoma

Prof. Basie Verster Forward Player of the Year – Torsten van Jaarsveld

Harold Verster Backline Player of the Year – Francois Venter

Toyota Free State Cheetahs Currie Cup Player of the Year – Henco Venter

Toyota Cheetahs Vodacom Super Rugby Player of the Year – Aranos Coetzee

Toyota Cheetahs Players’ Player of the Year – Henco Venter

Toyota Free State Cheetahs Player of the Year – Francois Venter

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport