SA Rugby President Congratulates Springbok Quartet on World Rugby Awards Nominations
The Springbok quartet comprising Pieter-Steph du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, and Ethan Hooker have been recognized with nominations for the esteemed World Rugby Awards scheduled for this Saturday, 22 November.
This announcement highlights their nominations in the categories of World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year and World Rugby Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year. These nominations come as a result of their contributions to the team in retaining the Rugby Championship title this season.
Pieter-Steph du Toit, who made history last year as the first South African to win the World Men’s 15s Player of the Year Award twice, is again nominated alongside Marx, Nche, and France's Louis Bielle-Biarrey. This marks the second nomination for Marx in this category, having previously been recognized in 2018.
In the Breakthrough Player category, Hooker stands out as one of four nominees alongside New Zealand’s Fabian Holland, England’s Henry Pollock, and Australia’s Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
SA Rugby President Mr. Mark Alexander expressed his congratulations, stating, “I’d like to congratulate Pieter-Steph, Malcolm, Ox, and Ethan for being recognized among the best players in the world. The fact that three of the four Men's 15s Player of the Year nominees are from South Africa, along with Ethan in the Breakthrough category, underscores the quality of our players on a global platform.”
He added, “They have all performed exceptionally well this season and deserve this recognition. On behalf of SA Rugby and the entire country, I want to express how proud we are of them. We wish them well ahead of Saturday’s announcement. Regardless of the outcome, being nominated is already a remarkable achievement.”
Historically, other South African nominees for the Men’s 15s Player of the Year Award over the past eleven years include Willie le Roux and Duane Vermeulen in 2014, Faf de Klerk in 2018, and Lukhanyo Am in 2022. Apart from Du Toit, only two other South Africans have won top honors: Schalk Burger in 2004 and Bryan Habana in 2007.
Additionally, World Rugby will unveil its Dream Team of the Year on Tuesday, 25 November.
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