Libbok among nominees for 2023 World Rugby awards

On Thursday it was confirmed that Manie Libbok had not been included in the Springboks’ matchday 23 for the World Cup final, but he is among a top-class list of nominees for the 2023 World Rugby Awards.

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Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber, centurion lock Eben Etzebeth have also been nominated among the awards that will be presented at the Opéra Garnier in Paris on Sunday, 29 October – a day after Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final at the Stade de France.

Libbok features on an exciting list of nominees for Breakthrough Player of the Year along with Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France wing), Mark Tele’a and Tamaiti Williams (New Zealand wing and prop respectively).

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Nienaber is in line for the World Rugby Coach of the Year award, while Etzebeth and Libbok have been nominated in the categories of World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year and World Rugby Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year respectively. Etzebeth was also selected for the World Rugby Men’s 15s Dream Team.

Nienaber, who took up the role as Springbok head coach in 2020 after serving as an assistant coach to Rassie Erasmus, who switched roles from Bok head coach to SA Rugby Director of Rugby after the team’s triumphant 2019 RWC campaign in Japan, will go up against Ian Foster (New Zealand), Andy Farrell (Ireland) and Simon Raiwalui (Fiji) for the world’s most prestigious coaching award.

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Etzebeth, who is currently the third most capped Springbok player of all time with 118 Test caps, has been nominated for the Player of the Year award alongside Bundee Aki (Ireland centre), Antoine Dupont (France scrumhalf and captain) and Ardie Savea (New Zealand loose forward).

LIBBOK AMONG WORLD RUGBY MEN’S 15S BREAKTHROUGH PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

• Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France)
• Manie Libbok (South Africa)
• Mark Tele’a (New Zealand)
• Tamaiti Williams (New Zealand)

In a year when many debutants have shone on the global stage, this quartet stood out with All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams only the third front-row to be nominated for this award. Team-mate Mark Tele’a scored the opening try of RWC 2023 against France and is a constant threat, as is 20-year-old Louis Bielle-Biarrey – the youngest contender – who has quickly established himself in a dangerous French back three and started four of their five RWC 2023 matches. Manie Libbok has seized the opportunity afforded to him with injuries at fly-half to catch the eye with his open play, not least his outrageous no-look kick-pass assist against Scotland.  

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WORLD RUGBY COACH OF THE YEAR

• Andy Farrell (Ireland)
• Ian Foster (New Zealand)
• Simon Raiwalui (Fiji)
• Jacques Nienaber (South Africa)

Ian Foster and Jacques Nienaber have led their respective teams to the Rugby World Cup 2023 final and would like nothing more than to bow out of their roles with a record fourth Webb Ellis Cup lifted for their nations. Andy Farrell has taken Ireland to the top of the World Rugby Men’s Rankings powered by Capgemini, but his side fell once more at the quarter-final hurdle. Simon Raiwalui, meanwhile, stepped in as Fiji coach in February and had an instant impact on the players who not only reached a first RWC quarter-final for 16 years but also a first win over Australia for 69 years.

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WORLD RUGBY MEN’S 15S PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• Bundee Aki (Ireland)
• Antoine Dupont (France)
• Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)
• Ardie Savea (New Zealand)

An even split of forwards and backs who have all been at the heart of their nations’ successes in 2023. Centre Bundee Aki was in inspired form at RWC 2023, scoring five tries in a tournament that saw him play his 50th test for Ireland. A test centurion, Eben Etzebeth continues to be a towering presence in the Springbok lineout while also weighing in with important tries as his score in the quarter-final defeat of France showed. Fellow finalist Ardie Savea always seems to be everywhere on the pitch for the All Blacks, his tireless work-rate evident for all to see in the quarter-final defeat of Ireland. Finally, scrum-half Antoine Dupont is not only the captain of France but the heartbeat of the team that has captured the imagination of the French public, despite their RWC heartbreak, with his constant threat around the pitch.  

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