England’s Ellie Kildunne and South Africa’s Pieter-Steph du Toit have been named World Rugby Women’s and Men’s 15s Player of the Year, while France’s Antoine Dupont and Australia’s Maddison Levi claimed the World Rugby Men’s and Women’s Sevens Player of the Year accolades at the star-studded World Rugby Awards 2024 event in Monaco on Sunday 24th November.
Pieter-Steph du Toit became only the 4th male player to earn the accolade for a second time after he was also named World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year in 2019, while Dupont winning the 7s title has split fan opinion online with the French star only having been involved in three tournaments last season.
England Roses full-back Ellie Kildunne won for the first time after playing a key role in England’s perfect 2024 campaign in which they won all 10 matches played and won the Women’s Six Nations and WXV 1 titles.
Ugo Monye poses for a photograph with Ellie Kildunne of England as she is presented with the World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year award during the World Rugby Awards on November 24, 2024 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
It was the third successive time Levi had been nominated and the Australian set a new record for most tries in a single Olympic Games (14) after scoring 69 tries on the HSBC SVNS 2024. She is the third Australian recipient after Emilee Cherry and Charlotte Caslick.
Photo Credit- (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce – World Rugby/Getty Images) – France’s Antoine Dupont and Australia’s Maddison Levi claimed the World Rugby Men’s and Women’s Sevens Player of the Year
Erin King (Ireland) and Wallace Sititi (New Zealand) were awarded the World Rugby 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year.
French Men’s Sevens head coach Jérôme Daret was named World Rugby Coach of the Year. This past season they ended a 19-year wait for an SVNS title Cup and won Olympic gold in July – he is the first Sevens coach to receive this award.
- International Rugby Players Men’s Try of the Year – Nolann Le Garrec (France, v England, Men’s Six Nations, 17 March)
- International Rugby Players Women’s Try of the Year – Marine Ménager (France, v Canada, WXV 1, 29 September)
You can see more about all of the winners here.
International Rugby Players Special Merit Award 2024
Vickii Cornborough (England) received the International Rugby Players Special Merit Award. World Rugby says she was recognised “for her impact, both on and off the field of play, shaping among her many achievements the support available to women’s players in England through her role on the Rugby Players’ Association board.”
The former England prop announced her international retirement in April 2024 having played 75 times for the Red Roses winning a number of titles across her career. She also served as the vice-chair of the Rugby Players’ Association in England and played a pivotal role in creating the Rugby Football Union’s maternity policy.
World Rugby Hall of Fame 2024
The 5 players we mentioned previously were inducted in the World Rugby Hall of Fame – Emilee Cherry (Australia), DJ Forbes (New Zealand), Donna Kennedy (Scotland), Chris Laidlaw (New Zealand) and Sergio Parisse (Italy).
Team Of The Year – World Rugby Awards 2024
World Rugby Men’s 15s Dream Team of the Year
1. Ox Nche (South Africa) 2. Malcolm Marx (South Africa) 3. Tyrel Lomax (New Zealand) 4. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa) 5. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland) 6. Pablo Matera (Argentina) 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa) 8. Caelan Doris (Ireland) 9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland) 10. Damian McKenzie (New Zealand) 11. James Lowe (Ireland) 12. Damian de Allende (South Africa) 13. Jesse Kriel (South Africa) 14. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa) 15. Will Jordan (New Zealand).
World Rugby Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year
1. Hope Rogers (USA), 2. Georgia Ponsonby (New Zealand) 3. Maud Muir (England) 4. Zoe Aldcroft (England) 5. Laetitia Royer (Canada) 6. Aoife Wafer (Ireland) 7. Sophie de Goede (Canada) 8. Alex Matthews (England) 9. Pauline Bourdon Sansus (France) 10. Holly Aitchison (England) 11. Katelyn Vahaakolo (New Zealand) 12. Alex Tessier (Canada) 13. Sylvia Brunt (New Zealand) 14. Abby Dow (England) 15. Ellie Kildunne (England).
World Rugby Men’s Sevens Dream Team of the Year in partnership with HSBC
Selvyn Davids (South Africa), Antoine Dupont (France), Aaron Grandidier Nkanang (France), Terry Kennedy (Ireland), Nathan Lawson (Australia), Ponipate Loganimasi (Fiji), Matías Osadczuk (Argentina).
World Rugby Women’s Sevens Dream Team of the Year in partnership with HSBC
Olivia Apps (Canada), Michaela Blyde (New Zealand), Kristi Kirshe (USA), Maddison Levi (Australia), Ilona Maher (USA), Jorja Miller (New Zealand), Séraphine Okemba (France).
Rugby News 2024
- World Rugby Awards 2024 Nominees Announced.
- Emirates Dubai 7s 2024 – Fan Guide To Everything That’s Happening.
- HSBC SVNS 2025 Final Schedule Confirmed.
- Fans Guide To HSBC SVNS Series 2024-2025.
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