World Rugby Awards 2024: No French Players in the XV of the Year
In a surprising turn of events at the World Rugby Awards held in Monaco on November 24, 2024, no French players were selected for the prestigious World XV of the Year. The team featured seven South Africans, four Irish, three New Zealanders, and one Argentinian player. Despite this omission, France celebrated Antoine Dupont's achievement as the best player in the world for rugby sevens, following his gold medal win at the Paris Olympics earlier this year.
Pieter-Steph du Toit from South Africa was honored as the best player in the XV category, marking his second win of this accolade, having previously received it in 2019. The men's XV revelation award went to New Zealand's Wallace Sititi, showcasing the rising talent in the sport.
Highlights from the Awards Ceremony
Antoine Dupont's remarkable season continued as he was recognized as the Men's Sevens Player of the Year, a title awarded in partnership with HSBC. His coach during the Olympic Games, Jérôme Daret, was also acknowledged as the best coach of the season, overseeing both sevens and fifteens. Dupont's absence from the XV player nominations was due to the award's criteria, which focuses solely on international matches.
In addition to Dupont's accolades, Nolann Le Garrec from Racing 92 received the award for the best try of the year for his stunning effort against England during the Six Nations Tournament. Marine Ménager also shone in the women's category, winning the best try award for her performance against Canada. English full-back Ellie Kildunne was named the best player in the women's XV, highlighting the competitive nature of the sport across genders.
