Boks dominate World Rugby awards with 3 nominees for player of the year

World Rugby have announced their nominees for World Rugby player of the year, with Rugby Championship winners and current world number ones South Africa unsurprisingly featuring heavily.

Three of the four nominees for the award are Springboks – current holder and two-time winner Pieter-Steph du Toit, 2018 nominee Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche. France’s Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who won a Six Nations title this year and the Investec Champions Cup with Bordeaux-Begles, joins the South African trio on the list.

The Boks are also represented in the breakthrough player of the year category, with versatile back Ethan Hooker, who made his debut against Italy in July and scored his first try against the same opposition at the weekend, making the list.

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Hooker will be joined by England’s Henry Pollock, the All Blacks‘ Fabian Holland and Australia’s Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

A further four players have been nominated for try of the year – Argentina’s Santiago Cordero against the British and Irish Lions in June, Chile’s Santiago Pedrero for his effort against Samoa last month, Fiji’s Lekima Tagitagivalu against the Wallabies in July and the All Blacks’ Tupou Vaa’i against France in July.

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The winners of the awards will be revealed on Saturday November 22 across World Rugby’s digital platforms.

“The World Rugby Awards represent a celebration of the very best our sport has to offer,” World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said.

“From breathtaking tries to breakthrough talents and inspirational leaders, this year’s nominees have shone brightly on the global stage in 2025, truly embodying the values and spirit of rugby. On behalf of World Rugby, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to each nominee for their remarkable contributions and achievements over the past year.

“Following the recognition of our women’s stars in September, I now look forward with great anticipation to announcing the winners and unveiling the Dream Team of the Year later this month, as we bring the year to a fitting and memorable close.”