URC ‘Elite XV’: Four SA players included in dream team

Four South Africans have been included in the United Rugby Championship dream team for the 2022/23 season.

Also, all five participating nations in the competition — Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Italy and South Africa — are represented in the “Elite XV”.

Ireland deliver six of the 15 players, determined by a media vote, while Scotland and Italy have two each and Wales one player.

SA players

The four South Africans are fullback Kurt-Lee Arendse of the Bulls, centre Dan du Plessis of the Stormers, scrumhalf Grant Williams of the Sharks and loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff of the Stormers.

Players had to have made a minimum of nine appearances to be considered, with the media panel given a shortlist of 10 players per position, provided by URC StatMaster. The player with the most votes in each position earned a place in the team.

URC Elite XV

Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), 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)

Places in the Elite XV are the latest prizes to be revealed as part of three weeks of URC awards announcements.

The Try of the Season, Ironman, Golden Boot and Fans’ Player of the Season are to be disclosed next week.

The Coach of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season and Fans’ Player of the Season are then revealed in the build-up to the Grand Final.

The awards that have already been handed out are:

Top Try Scorer: Tom Stewart (Ulster)
Tackle Machine: John Hodnett (Munster)
Turnover King: Thomas Young (Cardiff)
Next-Gen Player of the Season: Tom Stewart (Ulster)