South Africa flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit and England fullback Ellie Kildunne were named World Rugby’s Players of the Year on Sunday.
Du Toit, the 2019 winner, became just the fourth men’s player to win the award twice, joining New Zealand legends Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, and Beauden Barrett. Despite South Africa’s rotation policy, du Toit played in 10 of the Springboks’ 13 tests in 2023, starting in eight. His contributions helped South Africa win its first Rugby Championship since 2019 and complete an unbeaten autumn tour of Europe for the first time in 11 years. Du Toit missed Saturday’s 34-22 win over Wales in Cardiff due to a shoulder injury. He was named Player of the Year ahead of teammates Eben Etzebeth and Cheslin Kolbe, and Ireland’s Caelan Doris.
Kildunne’s award capped an outstanding year in which she was also named the Women’s Six Nations Player of the Tournament. She played a key role in England’s unbeaten season, leading them to a Six Nations Grand Slam, defending their WXV1 title, and scoring 14 tries in 10 tests. Kildunne also contributed to Britain’s sevens team at the Paris Olympics. She was the fourth England player to win the award in the last five years. Her nominations included teammate Alex Matthews, France’s Pauline Bourdon Sansus, and Canada’s Alex Tessier.
In other awards, Erin King was named Women’s Breakthrough Player of the Year, becoming the first Irishwoman to win an individual honor. King, who debuted in 15s in September, played a pivotal role in helping Ireland finish second in the WXV1, including a historic victory over New Zealand.
All Blacks flanker Wallace Sititi claimed the Men’s Breakthrough Player award after impressing on debut in July and earning a starting spot for the rest of the year, including all five tests during New Zealand’s tour of Japan and Europe.
The Coach of the Year award went to France’s Jerome Daret, who led the men’s sevens team to an Olympic gold medal and their first World Series title. Under Daret’s guidance and with Antoine Dupont’s key contributions, France won its first Olympic medal in sevens after failing to qualify for the Tokyo Games.
Australia’s Maddison Levi was named the Best Women’s Sevens Player, scoring 69 tries in the World Series and 14 more at the Olympics.
