Pieter-Steph du Toit crowned World Rugby men's 15s player of the year

Pieter-Steph du Toit has become a World Rugby men’s 15s player of the year double winner after being crowned the top player for 2024 at Sunday night’s awards ceremony in Monaco. The Springboks flanker had previously won the award in 2019, the same year as his country’s Rugby World Cup final win in Japan.

Now, 13 months after South Africa successfully defended that title in France, du Toit has beaten off fellow countrymen Eben Etzebeth and Cheslin Kolbe, along with Ireland’s Caelan Doris, to the 2024 award.

The 32-year-old Springboks back-rower this year helped South Africa to win their first full Rugby Championship title since 2009. They then followed that achievement with an unbeaten Autumn Nations Series.

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Rassie Erasmus says his team’s achievements in 2024 is special after his internal conflict regarding employing a rotation policy.

Du Toit featured twice this November, helping the Springboks to beat Scotland and England before flying home last Monday from the UK with the shoulder niggle that ruled him out of this weekend’s tour-ending game against Wales.

That trip south was brief and du Toit was eventually set to be present in Monaco on Sunday night following a storm delay after his award was initially presented to his wife by Jonathan Webb, the former England full-back who this month became the new World Rugby vice-chair.

It was the fourth time South Africa have won the men’s 15s player of the year. Aside from du Toit’s success in 2019, Schalk Burger and Bryan Habana were previous winners in 2004 and 2007 respectively.

New Zealand’s Wallace Sititi was named 15s men’s breakthrough player of the year, while Nolann Le Garrec of France won the 15s men’s try of the year.