Fullback Quan Horn has been named Vodacom United Rugby Championship Ironman of the season after racking up the most minutes over 18 rounds of the competition.
The 21-year-old Lions star clocked 1,428 minutes and was one of only 10 players to feature in all of his team’s league matches.
Vodacom Bulls lock Ruan Nortje – the 2021-22 Ironman with 1,394 minutes – had to settle for second place after playing two more minutes this campaign.
Horn’s Lions teammate Marius Louw was third with 1,371 followed by Connacht’s John Porch (1,340) and Cardiff’s John Turnbull (1,321).
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Meanwhile, Benetton centre Joaquin Riera claimed the Try of the Season accolade for his touchdown in a thrilling 43-33 defeat to the Sharks at Kings Kings Park on 14 April.
The 29-year-old, capped 11 times by Argentina, got on the end of a chip from SA-born playmaker Rhyno Smith, who had collected his own Garryowen, to dart over in the corner.
The Golden Boot and Fans’ Player of the Season winners will be announced later this week. The Coach of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season will be revealed in the build up to the final between the DHL Stormers and Munster on Saturday, 27 May.
URC Awards 2022-23 winners:
Top Try Scorer: Tom Stewart (Ulster)
Tackle Machine: John Hodnett (Munster)
Turnover King: Thomas Young (Cardiff Rugby)
Next-Gen Player of the Season: Tom Stewart (Ulster)
Elite XV: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), Daniel du Plessis (Stormers), Simone Gesi (Zebre Parma), Ross Byrne (Leinster), Grant Williams (Sharks), Gavin Coombes (Munster), Scott Penny (Leinster), Vaea Fifita (Scarlets), Federico Ruzza (Benetton), Niall Murray (Connacht), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Steven Kitshoff (Stormers)
Try of the Season: Joaquin Riera (Benetton)
Ironman: Quan Horn (Lions)
Photo: Gareth Everett/Gallo Images