World Rugby Awards: Boks top of the props

NEWS: South Africa will not only finish the year as the world’s top-ranked team, they have also produced the best player and the bulk of the Dream Team.

Two-time World Cup-winning flank Pieter-Steph du Toit has become the first South African to win World Rugby’s Player of the Year title for a second time.

Du Toit, who did not attend Sunday’s gala awards ceremony, beat off the challenge of Ireland’s Caelan Doris, as well as fellow World Cup-winning Springboks Eben Etzebeth and Cheslin Kolbe.

More to follow …

Men

Player of the Year

Winner: Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)

Nominees
Caelan Doris (Ireland)
Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)
Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)
Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa)

Breakthrough Player of the Year

Winner: Wallace Sititi (New Zealand)

Nominees
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (South Africa)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (England)
Jamie Osborne (Ireland)
Wallace Sititi (New Zealand)

Try of the Year

Winner: Nolann Le Garrec (France v England, Men’s Six Nations, 17 March)

Nominees
James Lowe (Ireland v England, Men’s Six Nations, 10 March)
Lorenzo Pani (Italy v Wales, Men’s Six Nations, 17 March)
Nolann Le Garrec (France v England, Men’s Six Nations, 17 March)
Akaki Tabutsadze (Georgia v Australia, July Internationals, 20 July)

Dream Team

Women

Breakthrough Player of the Year

Winner: Erin King (Ireland)

Nominees
Caitlyn Halse (Australia)
Maddie Feaunati (England)
Erin King (Ireland)
Hannah King (New Zealand)

Player of the Year

Winner: Ellie Kildunne (England)

Nominees
Pauline Bourdon Sansus (France)
Ellie Kildunne (England)
Alex Matthews (England)
Alex Tessier (Canada)

Try of the Year

Winner: Marine Ménager (France v Canada, WXV, 29 September)

Nominees
Alyssa D’Incà (Italy v Scotland, Women’s Six Nations, 20 April)
Georgia Ponsonby (New Zealand v Australia, Pacific Four Series, 25 May)
Maya Stewart (Australia v Wales, WXV, 28 September)
Marine Ménager (France v Canada, WXV, 29 September)