Three members of South Africa's World Cup-winning team—Cheslin Kolbe, Eben Etzebeth, and Pieter-Steph Du Toit—have been shortlisted for the 2024 World Rugby Player of the Year award, with Antoine Dupont also in contention for the Sevens Player of the Year honor.
Du Toit, who previously won the award in 2019, is aiming to claim the prestigious title for a second time, while Kolbe and Etzebeth were key players in South Africa’s successful World Cup defense last year. Ireland’s Caelan Doris completes the list of nominees for the men’s top honor.
Dupont, the 2021 World Player of the Year, missed France's 2024 Six Nations campaign to focus on Sevens rugby, where he secured a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. He returned to the 15-a-side team earlier this month and is now among three players vying for the Sevens Player of the Year award, alongside French teammate Aaron Grandidier Nkanang and Ireland's Terry Kennedy.
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New Zealand’s emerging star Wallace Sititi, who has drawn comparisons to World Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea, is one of four nominees for Men’s Breakthrough Player of the Year following his impressive performance in the All Blacks’ 24-22 win over England. Other nominees in this category include England’s Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, South Africa’s Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Ireland’s Jamie Osborne.
For the women’s 15s Player of the Year, England’s Ellie Kildunne and Alex Matthews, France’s Pauline Bourdon Sansus, and Canada’s Alex Tessier are the nominees.
The winners will be revealed on Sunday in Monaco.
