A cut above the rest: Eight South Africans named in URC Elite XV

The side was voted on by a media selection panel, spanning all five territories within the competition, and eight players from the Stormers, Bulls and Lions have made the cut.

To be eligible, players must have made nine appearances during the regular campaign, with the panel provided with a shortlist of 10 per position by URC StatMaster.

The player with the most votes in each position then earned a place in the team, with the Stormers and Bulls providing the biggest contingent with three players apiece.

The league’s top try scorer Evan Roos (12) and top points scorer, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (158) are both recognised for their efforts, along with their Stormers teammate Ntuthuko Mchunu.

As for the Bulls of Pretoria, Embrose Papier (scrumhalf) and Johann Grobbelaar (hooker) - who touched down nine and eight times respectively - are joined by Cobus Wiese (lock).

Meanwhile, Ulster, Connacht, Glasgow Warriors and the Lions all have two players on board.

As for the Lions, their achievement in reaching the play-offs for the first time and also winning the South African Shield is recognised by the inclusion of Ruan Venter (flanker) and Quan Horn (fullback), who has played every single minute of the regular season to pick up the Ironman award for the second time.

Former Blitzbok speedster Werner Kok is one of the Ulster players in the side.

Elite XV Team

15 Quan Horn, Lions
14 Werner Kok, Ulster
13 Stafford McDowall, Glasgow Warriors
12 Stuart McCloskey, Ulster
11 Kyle Rowe, Glasgow Warriors
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Stormers
9 Embrose Papier, Bulls
8 Evan Roos, Stormers
7 Ruan Venter, Lions
6 Cian Prendergast, Connacht
5 Cobus Wiese, Bulls
4 Darragh Murray, Connacht
3 Thomas Clarkson, Leinster
2 Johann Grobbelaar, Bulls
1 Ntuthuko Mchunu, Stormers