A panel of South Africa’s elite rugby brains has officially crowned Embrose Papier as the country’s premier Vodacom URC player.
The Vodacom Bulls scrumhalf clinched the South African Vodacom URC Player of the Season award following a stellar campaign, earning the unanimous backing of the Springbok coaching staff, rival franchise coaches, and top-tier commentators.
Utilising his scintillating speed, Papier scored nine tries in the regular league campaign, plus two more during a Player of the Match display in the quarterfinal victory over Munster, while he has also delivered five assists, beaten 25 defenders and made 15 clean breaks.
His irresistible form saw him called up to the recent Springbok alignment camp, raising the prospect that his eight-year wait for another Test opportunity could be about to come to an end.
The Western Cape-born No 9 was just 21 when he was first called up by South Africa in 2018, making his Test debut against Wales that summer.
He went on to win seven caps during that year, but since then he has been in the international wilderness.
However, that could be all about to change with his recall.
“I just kept working. I knew I could still do it. It was just little things I had to work on,” says the 29-year-old. “I have become a lot calmer over the years and started making better decisions on the field. In the past, I used to just pass a lot and see what happens. But now I analyse teams.
“The more experience you gain, the better decisions you make. You can see when the forwards are going forward or being tackled backwards, then you know when to make the ball slow or fast.”
Innovation Award – Vodacom Bulls
The entertainment experience lies at the heart of the project which has seen the Vodacom Bulls win the URC Innovation Award.
It’s a prize which rewards and celebrates efforts to grow the love of the game, with all 16 teams in the league invited to submit entries.
It recognises people behind the scenes who are working hard to make rugby the greatest experience for fans – both on and off the field.
Connecting with supporters and encouraging new audiences to fall in love with rugby is seen as key to continuing to grow the league and the game.
Edgar Rathbone (Blue Bulls Company CEO), Shanil Mangaroo (Vodacom Bulls marketing manager) and Johan Ackermann (Vodacom Bulls coach).
“This is a historic and incredibly proud moment for the entire Vodacom Bulls family,” said Edgar Rathbone, CEO of the Blue Bulls Company. “To see Embrose recognised as the South African Vodacom URC Player of the Season is a testament to his relentless work ethic, maturity, and undeniable world-class talent. He has been the heartbeat of our backline, and this award is richly deserved after a phenomenal campaign.
“Equally pleasing is receiving the Vodacom URC Innovation Award for our ‘Where Rugby Meets Entertainment’ project. At Loftus Versfeld, we have always believed that match days should be an unforgettable experience for our supporters, both on and off the field. This award acknowledges the tireless work done behind the scenes to push boundaries and grow the game. Congratulations to Embrose, our off-field team, and of course, our incredible fans who make Loftus the vibrant fortress that it is.”
