Stormers and Bulls lead way in URC Elite XV despite Springboks hopeful’s snub
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (left) and Evan Roos (right) feature in the official URC Elite XV
The United Rugby Championship (URC) Team of the Season has been confirmed, with seven Springbok-capped players included.
Seven of the teams in the URC are represented in this selection, with the Bulls and Stormers leading the way with three picks apiece.
United Rugby Championship Team of the Season revealed as Springboks dominate selection
Elsewhere, the Lions, Ulster, Connacht and Glasgow Warriors also have two picks apiece, while Leinster have just one. Cardiff and Munster are the only teams to finish inside the top eight to not have any players included in this selection.
Within the selection, Lions man Quan Horn was given the nod at full-back, while outgoing Ulster winger Werner Kok and Glasgow Warriors’ Kyle Rowe have both been selected on the wings. Stafford McDowall joins Rowe as the second and final Glasgow representative, joining Ulster back Stuart McCloskey in midfield. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Embrose Papier have been selected as the half-back pairing.
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Stormers number eight Evan Roos joins Lions man Ruan Venter and Connacht’s Cian Prendergast in the back-row unit, with Paul de Villiers a notable absentee following his recent call-up to the Boks alignment camp.
Bulls powerhouse Cobus Wiese and Connacht ace Darragh Murray named as the locks. Leinster’s sole representation comes in the form of tighthead Thomas Clarkson, with Bulls hooker Johann Grobbelaar and Stormers loosehead Ntuthuko Mchunu rounding off the team.
The side was voted on by a select panel of media representatives from across each of the five URC territories, and the player with the most votes in each position was then selected. Judges were also given a shortlist of 10 players per position, which was not revealed prior to the selection announcement.
To be eligible for selection in this team, players must have played a minimum of nine regular-season games.
United Rugby Championship Elite XV in full
15 Quan Horn, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 Cobus Wiese, 4 Darragh Murray, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Johann Grobbelaar,1 Ntuthuko Mchunu
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