Bristol Bears centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg has been voted as April’s Gallagher Player of the Month, winning 58% of the vote in the public poll ahead of Saracens duo Owen Farrell and Tom Parton, and Harlequins full-back Tyrone Green.
Bristol Bears were unbeaten in Round 15 and 16, with the ever-impressive Janse van Rensburg, who was also on the March Gallagher Player of the Month shortlist, nominated for a second successive month.
The South African scored two tries in the Bears' runaway victory over Newcastle Falcons and was central to the West Country club’s stunning comeback win on away soil against Leicester Tigers.
The 27-year-old becomes the sixth recipient of the Gallagher Player of the Month award for the 2023/24 season, breaking the run of three consecutive player awards for league leaders Northampton Saints.
The winners so far this season:
October – Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)
November – Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby)
December – Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
January – Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
March – Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints)
Andy Ferguson, Managing Director of Gallagher’s Bristol Office, said: “It’s a pleasure to present the Gallagher Player of The Month award to Benhard who has played brilliantly so far this season. Since joining Bristol Bears last summer, Benhard has gone from strength to strength and has made some fantastic calls on the pitch. He has really made an impact on the team and certainly played a big role in Bristol’s recent success up against Newcastle Falcons and Leicester Tigers.”The shortlist was voted for by a panel of media professionals.
The judges for the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership Rugby season are: Ali Eykyn (TNT Sports), Ugo Monye (BBC, TNT Sports), Jill Douglas (ITV, BBC), Ashleigh Wilmot (Eurosport, TNT Sports), Rugby Inside Line, Alex Lowe (The Times), Hugh Godwin (i), Nick Mullins (TNT Sports) and Chris Jones (BBC).