Treu, De Villiers nominated for Top Award

They are up against some strong opposition though, with the likes of Proteas skipper Graeme Smith, Olympians Sifiso Nhlapo and Khotso Mokoena, 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman, Paralympics star Hilton Langenhoven, boxer Cassius Baloyi, mountain biker Burry Stander and Dakar-winner Giniel de Villiers all nominated for the award that was won last year by Bryan Habana.

Treu's work with the Bok Sevens team over the last five years is paying dividends. They had a good season in 2007/08, but have really taken off this season and have so far won three tournaments - in Dubai, George and Adelaide.

The “Blitsbokke”, as they are also known, are very close to their first ever IRB World Sevens Series title - for which Treu deserves lots of credit after years of hard work.

De Villiers was named the South African Player of the Year in 2008 after a brilliant season as captain of the Stormers and in the Bok midfield and his omission from the list of five nominees for the IRB's World Player of the Year raised eyebrows in some quarters.

The winners will be crowned at a gala dinner in Johannesburg on 11 June.