South African flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit was named best Rugby union player at the World Rugby Awards on Sunday, November 24, in Monaco, his second annual award after that obtained in 2019.
He is ahead of two of his compatriots Eben Etzebeth and Cheslin Kolbe, as well as the Irishman Caelan Doris. He succeeds New Zealander Ardie Savea.
The category is based solely on international matches, the Frenchman Antoine Dupont, who skipped the 2024 Six Nations Tournament to devote himself to rugby sevens, with an Olympic title on the line, was not preselected .
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World champions in 2019 and 2023, Pieter-Steph du Toit and his partners continued their good momentum in 2024 by winning the Rugby Championship for the first time in five years, finishing with five victories and one defeat.
During the November tour, they easily disposed of Scotland (32-15) and Wales (45-12) and also defeated the English (29-20).
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With two distinctions, du Toit, 86 caps with South Africa, joins New Zealand fly-half Beauden Barrett on the list. All Blacks Dan Carter and Richie McCaw have won the trophy three times each.
In this category, the winners were chosen by a panel of nine people made up of former players, coaches or journalists, including the former captain of the XV of France Thierry Dusautoir.
Senegal