NZ's Mark Tele'a Claims Men's Breakthrough Player of the Year
New Zealand's dynamic winger, Mark Tele'a, has secured the World Rugby's Men's 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year title, underlining his exceptional impact on the rugby arena this year.
Farrell of Ireland Recognized as Coach of the Year
Guiding the Irish team with strategy and passion, Andy Farrell has earned the prestigious World Rugby Coach of the Year title.
Scotland's Memorable Try Courtesy of van der Merwe
Duhan van der Merwe's stunning try against England on February 4th bagged him the International Rugby Players Men's Try of the Year award.
HSBC Partnership Highlights Sevens Sensations
Tyla Nathan-Wong from New Zealand and Rodrigo Isgro from Argentina are the proud recipients of the World Rugby Women’s and Men’s Sevens Player of the Year respectively, in collaboration with HSBC.
Diverse Achievements Across the Rugby World
David McHugh of Ireland has clinched the World Rugby Referee Award for his impeccable officiating.
George Nijaradze from Georgia is the deserving recipient of the Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service.
SOS Kit Aid, with its philanthropic initiatives, grabbed the Rugby for All Award.
For his enduring contributions since retirement, South Africa's former Bok captain, John Smit, was honored with the International Rugby Players Special Merit Award.
Hall of Fame Enshrines Global Rugby Icons
The esteemed World Rugby Hall of Fame warmly welcomed Daniel Carter (New Zealand), Thierry Dusautoir (France), George Smith (Australia), Juan Martín Hernández (Argentina), and Bryan Habana (South Africa) this year.
Springboks: A Tale of Unnoticed Achievements
While the awards glittered, there was a tangible sense of Springboks being sidelined.
Eben Etzebeth, who marked his place in the Men’s Test Dream Team, had been shortlisted for Player of the Year but was overshadowed by All Blacks' Ardie Savea.
Despite their outstanding performances, Manie Libbok and South African coach Jacques Nienaber remained without awards.
The Dream Team's selection also sparked discussions, considering several iconic Springboks stars were left out. Both France and Ireland, despite their World Cup quarter-finals exit, dominated with five players each, and the All Blacks added four to the lineup.
In Summation
While the accolades for New Zealand and Ireland were well-deserved, the Springboks' omissions became a talking point. As always, the rugby world remains unpredictable, keeping its global fanbase on its toes.
