News24 | Bulls No 9 Papier named SA’s URC Player of the Season

Bulls scrumhalf Embrose Papier has been rewarded for a stellar campaign by being named South Africa’s United Rugby Championship Player of the Season. Papier’s selection was determined by votes from the Springbok coaches, the SA franchise coaches and local broadcast commentators. Papier, who was also named in the URC Elite XV for the season, scored nine tries in the regular league campaign, plus two more in a Man of the Match performance against Munster in the quarter-finals. During the 2025/26 season, he has delivered five assists, beaten 25 defenders and made 15 clean breaks. As reward, Papier was recently called up to the Springbok alignment camp and he’ll be hoping to make a return to the Test fold having been in the international wilderness in recent years. READ | SA trio scoop URC awards after standout seasons Papier was 21 when he was first called up by South Africa in 2018, making his Test debut against Wales. He went on to earn seven caps during that year, but hasn’t played for the Springboks again. “I just kept working,” Papier said in a statement. “I knew I could still do it. It was just little things I had to work on. I have become a lot calmer over the years and started making better decisions on the field. “In the past, I used to just pass a lot and see what happens. But now I analyse teams. “The more experience you gain, the better decisions you make. You can see when the forwards are going forward or being tackled backwards, then you know when to make the ball slow or fast.” Gilbert Golden Boot: Chris Smith (Lions) IPVanish Tackle Machine: Ben Carter (Dragons RFC) Ironman: Quan Horn (Lions) Top Try Scorer: Evan Roos (Stormers) Playmaker: Jack Walsh (Ospreys) Next-Gen Player of the Season: Tom Bowen (Cardiff) SA URC Player of the Season: Embrose Papier (Bulls) Innovation Award: Bulls Try of the Season, powered by URC.tv: Angus Bell (Ulster)