Each domestic team included two nominees: Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Cameron Hanekom from the Vodacom Bulls; Suleiman Hartzenberg and Andre-Hugo Venter from the DHL Stormers; and Quan Horn and Henco van Wyk from the Emirates Lions.

They will go head-to-head for the honours against six players from Wales, two from Scotland, and one each from Ireland and Italy, with the eventual winner set to be determined by media vote.

All the players nominated for the award had to meet three criteria. They had to be under the age of 23 years old, boast no more than five Test caps at the beginning of the 2023/2024 season, and play at least nine matches in the pool stages of the competition.

Wessels, Hanekom, Venter, and Horn all made their Springbok debuts in 2024, in which the double Rugby World Cup champions won 11 out of their 13 Tests and used 50 players across the international season, while Hartzenberg and Van Wyk were among 56 players invited to Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’ first alignment camp of the season in March this year.

With all six players making a strong statement this season thanks to their consistently superb performances, along with their competitors, it could be a tight battle to determine who walks away with the title.

Vodacom URC Next-Gen Player of the Season nominees:
Quan Horn, Emirates Lions
Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Vodacom Bulls
Matt Currie, Edinburgh Rugby
Gabe Hamer-Webb, Cardiff Rugby
Henco van Wyk, Emirates Lions
Ellis Mee, Scarlets
Jack Boyle, Leinster Rugby
Cameron Hanekom, Vodacom Bulls
Suleiman Hartzenberg, DHL Stormers
Andre-Hugo Venter, DHL Stormers
Macs Page, Scarlets
Simone Gesi, Zebre Parma
Aneurin Owen, Dragons RFC
Paddy Harrison, Edinburgh Rugby
Blair Murray, Scarlets
Dan Edwards, Ospreys