Golden Lions captain Warren Whiteley was named Player of the Year at the annual GLRU Player Awards at Ellis Park.

Whiteley led the Lions to their best ever Vodacom Super Rugby finish and was also involved in the Blitzboks' gold medal-winning Commonwealth Games side. He capped off a fine year with a Springbok call-up during the Rugby Championship and travelled with the Boks for their end-of-year tour.

He was one of a number of forwards that won big on the evening, with Jaco Kriel and Armand van der Merwe also claiming prizes. Van der Merwe walked away with the Most Improved Player of the Year Award, while Kriel was named the Forward Player of the Year, the Players’ Player of the Year and was also awarded the Supporters’ Player of the Year Award.

Lionel Mapoe, who captained the Lions in Whiteley's absence, was named Backline Player of the Year, while young pivot Jaco van der Walt took home the award for Most Improved Backline Player of the Year.

List of senior winners

Forward Player of the Year – Jaco Kriel
Most Improved Forward Player of the Year – Armand van der Merwe
Backline Player of the Year – Lionel Mapoe
Most Improved Backline Player of the Year – Jaco van der Walt
Supporters’ Player of the Year – Jaco Kriel
Senior Players’ Player of the Year – Jaco Kriel
Senior Player of the Year – Warren Whiteley

Photo: Barry Aldworth/BackpagePix