New Zealand miss out in Player of the Year awards

New Zealand have been snubbed in the World Rugby Player of the Year awards with not a single men’s or women’s player making it onto the 15s shortlist for what must be the first time in history.

The men’s list includes three world champions in Springbok trio Eben Etzebeth, Cheslin Kolbe and Pieter-Steph du Toit, who would become the first South African to win the award twice having won it in 2019. Ireland’s consistently superb Grand Slam winner, Caelan Doris, is also in the running.

Prolific Black Ferns try-scorer Katelyn Vaha’akolo must have been in contention for the women’s award but England duo, Ellie Kildunne and Alex Matthews, France’s Pauline Bourdon Sansus and Canada’s Alex Tessier make up the quartet of nominees.

Meanwhile, Olympics gold medallist Antoine Dupont has been nominated for the World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year award after making a sensational transition to the shortened format of the game in 2024.

If he beats off competition from teammate Aaron Grandidier Nkanang and prolific Ireland try-scorer and 2022 winner Terry Kennedy, Dupont will become the first male player to win both the sevens and 15s awards. He won the 15s award in 2021.

Les Bleus captain Dupont was voted the best player in 15s in 2021 and has excelled in sevens, too, with his performances in Paris instrumental in helping France to top the podium.

New Zealand’s Portia Woodman is the only other player to have previously achieved the 15s/sevens Player of the Year double.

In total, there are eight categories with the eventual winners to be announced during the World Rugby Awards ceremony on 24 November in Monaco.

Fans will also be given their say on the outcome, with online voting open until 20 November 17:00 at www.world.rugby/awards/toty to determine the winner of the International Rugby Players Men’s and Women’s 15s Try of the Year categories.

All the categories and nominees are listed below:

Men’s 15s

Player of the Year: Caelan Doris (IRE), Eben Etzebeth (RSA), Pieter-Steph du Toit (RSA), Cheslin Kolbe (RSA)

Breakthrough Player of the Year: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (RSA), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (ENG), Jamie Osborne (IRE), Wallace Sititi (NZL).

Try of the Year:  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).

Women’s 15s

Player of the Year: Pauline Bourdon Sansus (FRA), Ellie Kildunne (ENG), Alex Matthews (ENG), Alex Tessier (CAN)

Breakthrough Player of the Year: Caitlyn Halse (AUS), Maddie Feaunati (ENG), Erin King (IRE), Hannah King (NZL).

Try of the Year: 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).

Men’s Sevens Player of the Year: Antoine Dupont (FRA), Aaron Grandidier Nkanang (FRA), Terry Kennedy (IRE)

Women’s Sevens Player of the Year: Michaela Blyde (NZL), Maddison Levi (AUS), Jorja Miller (NZ

Other categories include:

International Rugby Players Special Merit Award
World Rugby Coach of the Year
World Rugby Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year
World Rugby Men’s 15s Dream Team of the Year
World Rugby Women’s Sevens Dream Team of the Year in partnership with HSBC
World Rugby Men’s Sevens Dream Team of the Year in partnership with HSBC