The Springbok centre Jean de Villiers took both the ‘SA Rugby Player’ and ‘Player’s Player of the Year’ awards at rugby’s annual awards banquet sponsored by Absa, Sasol and Vodacom which took place at a glittering ceremony at Vodaworld, Midrand on Tuesday.

“The 27-year-old Vodacom Western Province player was the clear winner in a poll of South African rugby journalists for the SA Rugby Player of the Year title ahead of four players from the Sharks Bismarck du Plessis, Adrian Jacobs, Ryan Kankowski and Beast Mtawarira.

De Villiers completed a memorable double as he was also awarded the prestigious Players` Player of the Year Award, voted for by members of the South African Rugby Players` Association (SARPA) the first man to complete the double since Ashwin Willemse won both in the 2003 season.

Ryan Kankowski`s outstanding year was recognised with four nominations although he had to settle for just one award as the Sharks No 8 was chosen Vodacom Super 14 Player of the Year. He was also nominated for Sasol Young Player of the Year and Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year as well as for the main award.

His back-row colleague Jean Deysel also had his devastating form in the Sharks run to the title recognised when he was named Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year.

And completing the Sharks joy was the award of two of the three new categories introduced this year. John Plumtree was chosen as Absa Coach of the Year after helping the Sharks end their 12-year wait for a title with victory on the Absa Currie Cup final, while the Sharks Super 14 was named as Vodacom Team of the Year after returning to the play-offs for a second successive year,

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SA Rugby’s Communication Officer Chris Hewitt seems to be the person amidst the allegations against Peter de Villiers about the existence of a sexual video. Mr Hewitt was suspended yesterday pending an internal investigation. Hewitt, who let De Villiers know of the existence of the video and apparently tried to blackmail him to include certain rugby players in his team selection, will still receive his salary during the course of the investigation.

Meanwhile, the Verenigde Gereformeerde Kerk (by word of James Mac Kay) where De Villiers is a member of have backed him, stating that he might be the target of supporters of the old regime because of his race.

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