WORLD’S BEST AGAIN?

HISTORY beckons for Springbok flank Pieter-Steph du Toit after being nominated alongside two fellow South Africans Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche for World Rugby’s Player of the Year.

Du Toit, current holder of this title after a jitz 2024 season, could become only the third player to win the individual prize for a derde time, when the winner is announced on Saturday at the World Rugby Awards ceremony.

New Zealand’s Richie McCaw and Dan Carter are the only players to be crowned the world’s best on three occasions.

Du Toit could also become the first South African to win back-to-back Player of the Year gongs, and join Kiwis Beauden Barrett (2017 and 2018), McCaw (2009 and 2010) as the only other two players to achieve the feat.

Maar wag so bietjie, because “Mister salads don’t win scrums” and star loosehead prop Nche kan ook geskiedenis maak.

Never in the history of rugby has a prop won this coveted title, which has historically gone to players in teammate Du Toit’s position or flyhalf, with seven wins each.

In fact, only once has a frontrower, Ireland hooker Keith Wood, ever bagged the gong, when it was first introduced by World Rugby back in 2001.  

Bok hooker Marx would also like to stake his claim for the prize after putting in some kwaai performances at the back end of the 2025 season.

The only non-South African to be nominated for the prize is electric French wing Louis Bielle-Biarry.

In the category of Breakthrough Player of the Year, Bokke rookie Ethan Hooker, will be hoping to make it a double after he was nominated alongside a strong contingent of rising international stars like Australia’s Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, All Black Fabian Holland and Engelsman Henry Pollock.

Seeing so many Boks nominated once again, a proud South African Rugby Union president, Mark Alexander wysed: “To have three of the four nominees for Men’s 15s Player of the Year from South Africa, as well as Ethan in the Breakthrough category, is a testament to the quality of our players on the global stage.

“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.”