Four South African Rugby stars nominated for 2025 World Rugby Awards

Chante Ho Hip

Chante Ho Hip

19 November 2025 | 9:13

“It shows that if you play together as a team, then the individuals stand out as well,” says De Villiers.

Four South African Rugby stars nominated for 2025 World Rugby Awards

FILE: South Africa's Springboks Ox Nche attends the team's captain's run at Sky Stadium in Wellington on 12 September 2025, ahead of their Rugby Championship Test match against New Zealand's All Blacks. Picture: Grant Down/AFP

Four South African players have been nominated for this year’s World Rugby Awards.

Up for the coveted Men’s 15s Player of the Year Awards are Pieter-Steph du Toit, Malcolm Marx, and Ox Nche.

Speaking to CapeTalk’s Lester Kiewit, former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers says the nominations reflect that the Springboks are the best rugby team in the world. 

He added that the team’s success naturally elevates individual performances.

Last year, Pieter-Steph du Toit became the first South African in history to win the World Men's 15s Player of the Year Award twice.

“It shows that if you play together as a team, then normally the individuals stand out as well. Those players who have been nominated have had a phenomenal season," says De Villiers. 

Bok centre Ethan Hooker is also up for Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year, a well-deserved honour, says De Villiers. 

“Whether at the Sharks or the U20S, and now at the Boks, he does everything so well. Playing a little bit out of position, but doing so fantastically well for the Boks. Well rewarded for a fantastic season for really, really good guys.” 

The winners will be revealed on Saturday, 22 November.

To listen to De Villiers in conversation with CapeTalk’s Lester Kiewit, click below:

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