Snyman and Brunello Crowned as 2024/25 URC Season’s Finest in a Year of Breakthroughs and Brilliance

As the curtain falls on another unforgettable Vodacom United Rugby Championship season, two names rise above the rest — Massimo Brunello and RG Snyman — each recognised not just for their individual brilliance, but for their impact on teams, fans, and the evolving legacy of the game.

For Brunello, the honour of BKT Coach of the Season is not just a reward — it’s a testament to belief and boldness. At the helm of Zebre Parma, he orchestrated one of the season’s most compelling narratives: a team long overlooked suddenly playing fearless, winning rugby and punching above its weight.

For RG Snyman, the Players’ Player of the Season award confirms what many already knew — that he’s not just a world-class lock, but a game-changer. Swapping Munster red for Leinster blue, Snyman didn’t just adapt — he dominated, becoming a vital cog in Leinster’s drive to the top of the table.

Their awards bring a fitting end to a season filled with stunning tries, bruising tackles, and unforgettable moments. Here is the press release in full:

URC AWARDS

BKT Coach of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season Announced

Zebre Parma’s Massimo Brunello has been named BKT Coach of the Season, with Leinster Rugby’s RG Snyman named Players’ Player of the Season bringing the curtain down on the 2024/25 URC Awards.

The BKT Coach of the Season is voted for by the league’s head coaches, with Brunello receiving the recognition from his peers.

Similarly, the prestigious Players’ Player of the Season award was voted on by the Captain and Vice-Captain of all 16 teams, with all nominees again required to have made a minimum of nine appearances.

BKT Coach of the Season: Massimo Brunello (Zebre Parma)

Brunello has transformed Zebre Parma this season, leading them to victories over Munster, Ospreys and Dragons at home, as well as famous away wins against Ulster and Edinburgh.

Their away win against Ulster ended a four-year wait for a victory on the road, and was backed up the following week with another win away against Edinburgh.

One of his fellow coaches said:
“Massimo made Zebre even more competitive this season with some impressive wins on the road. These results made qualification for the top eight interesting until late in the competition.”

Previous winners of this award include Graham Rowntree last season, and Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith back in 2022/23.

Lucia Salmaso, CEO of BKT Europe, said:
“Massimo has done a wonderful job this season with Zebre Parma, guiding them to some famous wins against tough opposition. He has demonstrated excellent leadership in his first season at the helm, creating history with Zebre’s first away win in four years. In creating a custom ring for him as the BKT Coach of the Season, we want this achievement to live long in the memory. Congratulations to Massimo on his fantastic work this season and we wish him all the best in the future.”

Players’ Player of the Season: RG Snyman (Leinster Rugby)

RG Snyman’s “X-Factor” has been lauded as a key reason he’s been named as the 2024/25 Players’ Player of the Season by his peers.

Snyman has been a key figure for Leinster this season following his switch from rivals Munster over the summer.

The towering lock helped his side to the top of the table in the regular season, with his offload game in particular being pivotal to the Irish province.

One fellow player applauded his “unique skillset” – branding him a “very tough” opponent:
“A threat all over the park. Strong in the set-piece and has a unique skillset which makes him very tough to play against.”

Previous winners of this award include Munster’s Jack Crowley last season, Leinster’s Dan Sheehan in 2022/23, and DHL Stormers forward Evan Roos in 2021/22.

Be sure to follow all the URC Awards announcements using the hashtag #URCAwards

URC Awards Winners 2024-25

• Gilbert Golden Boot: Ioan Lloyd (Scarlets)
• OFX Top Try Scorer: Harri Millard (Cardiff Rugby)
• Tackle Machine: Ruben van Heerden (DHL Stormers)
• Ironman: Cam Winnett (Cardiff Rugby)
• Playmaker: Tom Farrell (Munster Rugby)
• Elite XV: Jamie Osborne (Leinster Rugby), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Tom Farrell (Munster Rugby), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Blair Murray (Scarlets), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Craig Casey (Munster Rugby), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), RG Snyman (Leinster Rugby), Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls)
• Next-Gen Player of the Season: Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls)
• Innovation Award: Hollywoodbets Sharks
• Try of the Season Powered by URC.tv: Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers)
• South African Vodacom URC Player of the Season: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers)
• BKT Coach of the Season: Massimo Brunello (Zebre Parma)
• Players’ Player of the Season: RG Snyman (Leinster Rugby)

With every match available on URC.tv — complete with English commentary, full-match replays, and highlight packages — fans around the globe can relive the best of the season and celebrate those who stood tallest on rugby’s grand stage.