All Blacks teammate Mark Tele’a wins award for Breakthrough Player of the Year
30 October 2023 - 14:36
by Mark Gleeson
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
New Zealand's Ardie Savea poses with his trophy after winning World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year at the Opera Garnier, Paris on October 29 2023. Picture: GONZALO FUENTES/REUTERS
Paris — New Zealand loose forward Ardie Savea was named World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year on Sunday, despite ending up on the losing side in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final.
Savea was chosen ahead of Irish centre Bundee Aki, SA lock Eben Etzebeth and France captain Antoine Dupont, who won the award two years ago.
Savea is the 11th All Black to win the award, which was first introduced in 2001. He had been a finalist in 2019.
His award comes after a stellar season in which he helped New Zealand to win the Rugby Championship and a place in the World Cup final, which they lost 12-11 to the Springboks on Saturday.
Ireland’s Andy Farrell was chosen as World Rugby Coach of the Year while All Blacks winger Mark Tele’a won the award for Breakthrough Player of the Year.
The World Rugby dream team announced included just one Springbok in Etzebeth.
World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year — Ardie Savea (New Zealand)
World Rugby Coach of the Year — Andy Farrell (Ireland)
World Rugby Men's 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year — Mark Tele’a (New Zealand)
International Rugby Players Men’s Try of the Year — Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland, vs England on February 4)
World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year — Tyla Nathan-Wong (New Zealand)
World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year — Rodrigo Isgro (Argentina)
Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service — George Nijaradze (Georgia)
International Rugby Players Special Merit Award — John Smit (SA)
Rugby for All Award — SOS Kit Aid
World Rugby Referee Award — David McHugh
Dream team: Cyril Baille (France) 2. Dan Sheehan (Ireland) 3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland) 4. Eben Etzebeth (SA) 5. Scott Barrett (New Zealand) 6. Caelan Doris (Ireland) 7. Charles Ollivon (France) 8. Ardie Savea (New Zealand) 9. Antoine Dupont (France) 10. Richie Mo’unga (New Zealand) 11. Will Jordan (New Zealand) 12. Bundee Aki (Ireland) 13. Garry Ringrose (Ireland) 14. Damian Penaud (France) 15. Thomas Ramos (France).
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Ardie Savea named best rugby player of the year
All Blacks teammate Mark Tele’a wins award for Breakthrough Player of the Year
Paris — New Zealand loose forward Ardie Savea was named World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year on Sunday, despite ending up on the losing side in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final.
Savea was chosen ahead of Irish centre Bundee Aki, SA lock Eben Etzebeth and France captain Antoine Dupont, who won the award two years ago.
Savea is the 11th All Black to win the award, which was first introduced in 2001. He had been a finalist in 2019.
His award comes after a stellar season in which he helped New Zealand to win the Rugby Championship and a place in the World Cup final, which they lost 12-11 to the Springboks on Saturday.
Ireland’s Andy Farrell was chosen as World Rugby Coach of the Year while All Blacks winger Mark Tele’a won the award for Breakthrough Player of the Year.
The World Rugby dream team announced included just one Springbok in Etzebeth.
World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year — Ardie Savea (New Zealand)
World Rugby Coach of the Year — Andy Farrell (Ireland)
World Rugby Men's 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year — Mark Tele’a (New Zealand)
International Rugby Players Men’s Try of the Year — Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland, vs England on February 4)
World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year — Tyla Nathan-Wong (New Zealand)
World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year — Rodrigo Isgro (Argentina)
Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service — George Nijaradze (Georgia)
International Rugby Players Special Merit Award — John Smit (SA)
Rugby for All Award — SOS Kit Aid
World Rugby Referee Award — David McHugh
Dream team: Cyril Baille (France) 2. Dan Sheehan (Ireland) 3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland) 4. Eben Etzebeth (SA) 5. Scott Barrett (New Zealand) 6. Caelan Doris (Ireland) 7. Charles Ollivon (France) 8. Ardie Savea (New Zealand) 9. Antoine Dupont (France) 10. Richie Mo’unga (New Zealand) 11. Will Jordan (New Zealand) 12. Bundee Aki (Ireland) 13. Garry Ringrose (Ireland) 14. Damian Penaud (France) 15. Thomas Ramos (France).
Reuters
Boks, and South Africa, on top of the world — again
BRUCE WHITFIELD: ‘We are a land of winners, led by thieving dunces’
Springboks make history with fourth Rugby World Cup win
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Springboks make history with fourth Rugby World Cup win
GAVIN RICH: Final being marred by cards might wake up World Rugby
Springboks’ tenacity takes them over the line at Rugby World Cup
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.