IN THE SPOTLIGHT: South African players dominate the United Rugby Championship Dream Team for the 2021-22 season.

Following the addition of the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers to the competition for the inaugural URC campaign, South African franchises account for 10 members of a 15-man selection determined by a media vote.

The Stormers are the best-represented side with five players making the cut.

URC Top Try Scorer Leolin Zas is among four backs from the Cape Town outfit included.

The Bulls contribute three players, including Ironman Ruan Nortje, and the Sharks with two.

Ulster duo Nick Timoney and James Hume, Leinster flyhalf Ross Byrne and Munster scrumhalf Craig Casey and second row Jean Kleyn make up the non-South African contingent.

Players had to have made a minimum of nine appearances to be considered, with the media panel given a shortlist of 10 players per position, provided by URC StatMaster. The player with the most votes in each position earned a place in the team.

URC Dream Team: 15 Warrick Gelant (Stormers), 14 Seabelo Senatla (Stormers), 13 James Hume (Ulster), 12 Damian Willemse (Stormers), 11 Leolin Zas (Stormers), 10 Ross Byrne (Leinster), 9 Craig Casey (Munster), 8 Evan Roos (Stormers), 7 Nick Timoney (Ulster), 6 Marcell Coetzee (Bulls), 5 Ruan Nortje (Bulls), 4 Jean Kleyn (Munster), 3 Thomas du Toit (Sharks, 2 Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls), 1 Ox Nche (Sharks)

Places in the Dream Team are the latest to be revealed as part of three weeks of URC Awards announcements.

Next-Gen Star of the Season will be announced later this week before Fans’ Player of the Season, the Coach of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season are revealed in the build-up to the Grand Final.

URC Award Winners List 2021-22

Tackle Machine: Alan O’Connor (Ulster)

Turnover King: Jac Morgan (Ospreys)

Golden Boot: Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys)

Top Try Scorer: Leolin Zas (Stormers)

Ironman: Ruan Nortje ( Bulls)