7 SA players nominated for PRO14 dream team

Durban - Springbok winger Makazole Mapimpi, who will be in action against Argentina in the Rugby Championship clash in Durban on Saturday, is one of seven South Africans who are in line to make the PRO14 Dream Team of the season for 2017/18.

The other players nominated from the Cheetahs and Southern Kings are Ox Nche (prop), Torsten van Jaarsveld (hooker), Oupa Mohoje (flanker), Reniel Hugo (lock), Bobby de Wee (lock), and Uzair Cassiem (No 8).

Teams from each of the five participating nations have been included in the 45-man shortlist, which features three players in each position. The PRO14 Dream Team will be announced at Monday night’s Awards ceremony and 2018/19 Season Launch Party in Glasgow.

More than 75 members of the media, including former players and coaches, took part in the voting process, and for the first time, the top three nominees for each position have been listed in advance of the awards.

With Leinster Rugby and Scarlets reaching the first-ever PRO14 Final, a number of their players have dominated the voting by the media. With voting taking place at the end of the season it allowed for the media to select from more eligible players than ever before as a minimum of nine appearances were required in order to be selected.

The PRO14 Dream Team captain will also be present in Glasgow on Monday night.

2017/18 Guinness PRO14 Dream Team nominees:

Loosehead prop

Rob Evans (Scarlets)

Ox Nche (Cheetahs)

Cian Healy (Leinster Rugby)

Hooker

Sean Cronin (Leinster Rugby)

Torsten van Jaarsveld (Cheetahs)

Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby)

Tighthead prop

Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby)