Rugby

Erin King named World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year

Springboks’ Pieter-Steph Du Toit pips Caelen Dorris for Men’s Player of the Year award

Ireland’s Erin King celebrates scoring the winning try against New Zealand in the WXV 1 in September. Photograph: Travis Prior/Inpho
Ireland’s Erin King celebrates scoring the winning try against New Zealand in the WXV 1 in September. Photograph: Travis Prior/Inpho
Gerry Thornley
Sun Nov 24 2024 - 20:31

Erin King has become the first Irish woman to win an individual gong at the World Rugby awards after being named the Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year, while Pieter-Steph Du Toit was named the Men’s 15s Player of the Year for a second time, chosen from a shortlist which also included Caelan Doris.

The Springboks flanker previously claimed the award in 2019 and has been a near ever-present as the world champions won The Rugby Championship and an unbeaten tour of Europe. His team-mate Eben Etzebeth was also nominated for the second successive year having become South Africa’s most-capped men’s player, while Cheslin Kolbe was the third Springbok on the list.

Doris was integral in Ireland retaining their Six Nations title and captained the team to only a second victory in South Africa in their second Test in Durban, one of only two defeats suffered in 2024 by South Africa. The 26-year-old was one of four Irish players named on the Men’s 15s Dream Team of the Year along with Tadgh Beirne, Jamison Gibson-Park and James Lowe.

The team, which featured seven Springboks, was: Will Jordan (New Zealand); Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa), Jesse Kriel (South Africa), Damian de Allende (South Africa), James Lowe (Ireland); Damian McKenzie (New Zealand), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland); Ox Nche (South Africa), Malcolm Marx (South Africa), Tyrel Lomax (New Zealand); Eben Etzebeth (South Africa), Tadgh Beirne (Ireland); Pablo Matera (Argentina), Pieter-Steph Du Toit (South Africa), Caelan Doris (Ireland).

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King was in Monaco to receive her Breakthrough Player of the Year award, coming after a season in she also competed at the Paris Olympics as part of the Ireland Sevens team.

The 21-year-old flanker from Naas had a standout breakthrough year with the 15s team and was Ireland’s match-winner against New Zealand in WXV 1 in September, scoring twice in the famous victory over the reigning world champions, as well as scoring in Ireland’s win over the USA.

King’s fellow flanker Aoife Wafer was named on the Women’s Dream Team of the Year after her stellar season in helping Ireland achieve a third-place finish in the Six Nations and second in the WXV1.

England’s Ellie Kildunne was chosen as the Women’s 15s Player of the Year after scoring 14 tries in ten tests this year.

Jamie Osborne was shortlisted for the World Rugby Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year but that honour unsurprisingly went to the sensational Wallace Sititi, whose footwork and acceleration have helped him become a regular starter in the All Blacks’ backrow.

Lowe’s try against England at Twickenham in the Six Nations had been shortlisted for Men’s 15s Try of the Year but missed out to a stunning team effort by France over England in Marseilles from their own 22 which was finished by scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec.

Terry Kennedy was also shortlisted for Men’s Sevens Player of the Year but after Antoine Dupont’s influence in France’s Olympic gold medal success saw him earn take the award.

Gerry Thornley

Gerry Thornley

Gerry Thornley is Rugby Correspondent of The Irish Times

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