Four Irish players have been named in the BKT URC’s Elite XV, while RG Snyman is also included in the championship’s team of the season.
In total, one third of the team is made up of players from the Irish provinces, with three from Munster and two from Leinster.
Munster captain Tadhg Beirne was chosen alongside Snyman in the second row, with Beirne included in the Elite XV for the second year in a row.
The Elite XV is determined by a media vote and players must have made at least nine appearances to be considered, with the media panel provided a shortlist of 10 per position by URC StatMaster.
Jamie Osborne is the other Leinster player included, with the versatile back named at full-back, having also featured in both centre positions and on the wing.
Craig Casey (below) was chosen at scrum-half, while Tom Farrell also made the selection, with the Munster centre enjoying career-best form in 2024/25, playing every game for Munster this season, scoring a joint-high nine tries and winning the URC’s Playmaker award.
In total, nine different teams were represented in the Elite XV.
Bulls pair Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Wilco Louw were picked at prop, either side of Scarlets’ hooker Marnus van der Merwe.
Beirne and Snyman are at second row, while Jac Morgan of Ospreys and Rory Darge of Glasgow Warriors were picked at flanker.
The back row is completed with Cameron Hanekom at number eight, with Hanekom also winning the URC’s Next-Gen player of the season.
Casey is joined in the half-backs by Stormers’ out-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, with Andre Esterhuizen of the Sharks joining Farrell in midfield.
With Osborne at full-back, Edinburgh’s Darcy Grahan and Scarlets’ Blair Murray complete the team on the wings.
URC Elite XV 2024/25: 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)
