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The United Rugby Championship (URC) Awards kick off with standout performances from Chris Smith, Ben Carter, Quan Horn, Evan Roos, and Jack Walsh, each earning prestigious accolades. Here’s why South African sides and Welsh regions are dominating the awards this season.
Chris Smith secures the Gilbert Golden Boot for the second time, notching up an impressive 149 points through 17 penalties and 49 conversions, outpacing his nearest rival, Stormers' Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, by 36 points. Smith credits his success to rigorous training and the invaluable guidance of his kicking coach, Morne Steyn.
Ben Carter claims the IPVanish Tackle Machine award with an outstanding 97.6% tackle success rate among those with 150 or more tackles. This achievement caps off a significant season for the 25-year-old, solidifying his position as a first-choice lock for Wales and contributing to the Dragons' notable improvement, including a semi-final berth in the EPCR Challenge Cup.
The URC continues to celebrate top talent as more awards, including the Elite XV and Player of the Season honors, are set to be revealed later this week. The spotlight is firmly on these players as the competition heats up ahead of the semi-finals.
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