Six Springboks named in World Rugby Dream Team
NEWS: The Springboks will have more to celebrate after World Rugby revealed the Men’s 15s Dream Team of the Year for 2025
Player of the Year Malcolm Marx is one of six South Africans in the selection at the end of another successful year for Rassie Erasmus’ world champions, who claimed back-to-back Rugby Championship titles for the first time this year, and stand tall at the top of the World Rugby Men’s Rankings after winning all their November internationals to date.
Marx makes up one-third of an all-Springbok front row, alongside Ox Nché and Thomas du Toit, while two-time Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit is named in the back row.
Flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and wing Cheslin Kolbe complete the South African contingent in the 2025 team, a year after seven were named in the 2024 list.
All six players delivered stand-out performances on the international stage this season, in which the Springboks have won 11 out of their 13 Tests to date, with their final fixture of the year being against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.
Fullback Will Jordan, another who was named in last year’s XV, and scrumhalf Cam Roigard are the All Blacks in this year’s dream team. New Zealand are one of three nations to supply two players, along with Australia, who have centre Len Ikitau and No.8 Harry Wilson lining up; and England, who are represented by lock Maro Itoje and flank Tom Curry.
Scotland’s outside centre Huw Jones, France wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey, and Ireland lock Tadhg Beirne, the sixth player named two years in a row, complete this year’s team.
“I’d like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to Malcolm, Pieter-Steph, Ox, Thomas, Sacha and Cheslin on behalf of SA Rugby and the entire country for being named in the Dream Team,” said SA Rugby President Mark Alexander.
“They have all played exceptionally well this season and deserve this honour. Being named in this team is a massive achievement, especially since it consists of the best players throughout the world. To see six Springboks included is a testament to the quality of players we have in South Africa.
“Making this achievement even more remarkable, Malcolm became the second South African player in a row to win the World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year award, after being nominated alongside Pieter-Steph and Ox. In addition, Ethan Hooker was nominated for the World Rugby Breakthrough Men’s 15s Player of the Year award. As SA Rugby, we could not be prouder of them and the entire Springbok team.
“The Springboks are a true symbol of what we can achieve as a country and as a team when everyone works together.
“It is a brotherhood more than anything else and I’d like to congratulate coach Rassie Erasmus, his coaching staff and management team for ensuring that the players remain the best version of themselves on and off the field.”
Alexander also congratulated the Springboks on their season to date and wished them well for their final Test of the year.
“Once again, the Springboks have had a remarkable season, with only two defeats in 13 matches. To retain the top place on the world rankings in such a competitive year is exceptional,” he said.
“They still have one match to play and everyone at SA Rugby and across the country will be behind them on Saturday when they line up against Wales. We wish them luck as they aim to finish their November tour unbeaten for the second consecutive year.”
Nche, Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Kolbe were among the seven Springboks named in the 2024 Dream Team, along with Eben Etzebeth, Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel.
World Rugby Men’s 15s Dream Team: 15 Will Jordan (NZ), 14 Cheslin Kolbe (SA), 13 Huw Jones (Scotland), 12 Len Ikitau (Australia), 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France), 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (SA), 9 Cam Roigard (NZ), 8 Harry Wilson (Aus), 7 Tom Curry (England), 6 Pieter-Steph du Toit (SA), 5 Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), 4 Maro Itoje (England), 3 Thomas du Toit (SA), 2 Malcolm Marx (SA), 1 Ox Nche (SA).
