Bulls playmaker, Johan Goosen has been named the winner of the 2022/23 United Rugby Championship’s Gilbert Golden Boot award.

Goosen finished top of the tree with a 90% success rate having kicked 36 out of 40 in this season’s campaign for the Bulls.

The Gilbert Golden Boot prize recognises the season’s most accurate place-kicker, examining all kickers who have attempted a minimum of 30 ranked by their success percentage.

Capped 13 times by the Springboks, Goosen saw his 2021/22 season cut short by a knee injury and missed half of the current campaign due to shoulder surgery.

Goosen’s captain, Ruan Nortje celebrated the golden Goose for his tenacity and ability to bounce back after his many resets.

“For a guy like Goose to win this award having struggled with a few injuries and enduring a pretty tough time is pretty special for all of us. I just want to congratulate him on this recognition, which is not a surprise to us because we have seen the amount of work that he has put on, even during those times when he has had to reset,” Nortjé said.

The captain also remarked that his team is really blessed to have great placekickers.

“They give us that extra confidence because we know we can trust them to give us the added points on the board. I hope that the Bulls family will be inspired to push on no matter what because great things are possible as long as we remain determined and work hard on our dreams,” Nortjé commented.

The 30-year-old Goosen converted 10 of the Bulls’ 11 tries in the 78-12 historic Round 17 victory over Zebre Parma on April 15, equalling the record number set by Duncan Weir for Glasgow Warriors back in 2016.

Bulls team-mate Chris Smith was just behind on 89.09% while Ospreys’ Gareth Anscombe, last season’s winner, had a 100% success rate from his 10 kicks but wasn’t eligible this time.

The BKT Coach of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season will be announced next week in the lead-up to the URC Grand Final.

The URC Awards winners for the 2022-23 season were:

• OFX Top Try Scorer: Tom Stewart (Ulster)
• Tackle Machine: John Hodnett (Munster)
• Turnover King: Thomas Young (Cardiff Rugby)
• Next-Gen Player of the Season: Tom Stewart (Ulster)
• Try of the Season powered by URC.tv: Joaquin Riera (Benetton)
• Ironman: Quan Horn (Lions)
• Gilbert Golden Boot: Johan Goosen (Bulls)

The Elite XV as selected by a panel of experts and the media: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), Daniel du Plessis (Stormers), Simone Gesi (Zebre Parma), Ross Byrne (Leinster), Grant Williams (Sharks), Gavin Coombes (Munster), Scott Penny (Leinster), Vaea Fifita (Scarlets), Federico Ruzza (Benetton), Niall Murray (Connacht), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).

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