Fans are being given their say on the outcome, with online voting open until 20 November 17:00 at www.world.rugby/awards/toty to determine the winner of the International Rugby Players Men’s and Women’s 15s Try of the Year categories.
Breakthrough Player of the Year
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (ENG) and Jamie Osborne (IRE) are among the nominees in the men's category, with Maddie Feaunati (ENG) and Erin King (IRE) up for the women's category.
Feyi-Waboso – the youngest of the men's players on the list at 21 – has been a bright spot in a mixed year for England, scoring five tries in only eight appearances. Osborne, meanwhile, made an instant impact on Ireland’s tour of South Africa despite lining up in an unfamiliar position.
Feaunati helped England to a Guinness Women’s Six Nations and WXV 1 double in 2024 and has looked at home in a ridiculously talented Red Roses back row. Another flanker, Olympian King, was Ireland’s match-winner against New Zealand in September.
15s Player of the Year
Caelan Doris (IRE) is the only Championship player up for nomination in this category. The back rower was a vital cog as Ireland won the Guinness Men’s Six Nations and then captained the team to only a second test victory in South Africa during the summer.
Pauline Bourdon Sansus (FRA), Ellie Kildunne (ENG) and Alex Matthews (ENG) are in the line for Women's 15s Player of the Year. Bourdon Sansus continues to be the driving force for France, starting eight of Les Bleues’ nine matches in 2024. Kildunne has become the face of John Mitchell’s England as they prepare for their home Women’s Rugby World Cup, scoring 14 tries in only 10 tests this year. Number eight Alex Matthews has not been far behind her, though, and led England to victory in her first match as captain, against USA in September.
International Rugby Players 15s Try of the Year
There is strong Six Nations representation for Try of the Year, with three Championship tries from this year's edition. Included in the men's are: James Lowe v England; Lorenzo Pani v Wales; and Nolann Le Garrec v Wales.
James Lowe finished off a fine team move in acrobatic fashion against England at Twickenham in March, profiting from excellent work from Jack Crowley and Caelan Doris before Ciaran Frawley gave the scoring pass. Another flowing attack gave Italy full-back Lorenzo Pani space on the right wing against Wales a week later and he cut inside three would-be tacklers before hitting Ronaldo’s ‘siu’ celebration. In the same round, a stolen lineout gave France the platform to attack England from deep inside their own half. Gaël Fickou added impetus to the move before a sumptuous dummy and offload from Léo Barré released Nolann Le Garrec to score.
For the women, Alyssa D’Incà v Scotland in this year's Championship and Marine Ménager v Canada in WXV are in the reckoning for Try of the Year. Playing in the centre against Scotland in April, D’Incà displayed all her try-scoring nous to hit a brilliant line and slice through a defence that had been pulled out of shape. She then showed composure to step inside two players and score. In the WXV match, Lina Queyroi and Marine Ménager caught the Canada defence napping. After a stunning 50:22, Queyroi found the winger with a quick lineout and Ménager did the rest.
World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year
It wouldn't be an awards ceremony if France's Antoine Dupont wasn't in the mix, but the world superstar is also joined by his sevens teammate Aaron Grandidier Nkanang and Ireland's Terry Kennedy (IRE).
Dupont’s arrival in sevens created headlines and he more than lived up to his top billing, helping Les Bleus Sevens to the HSBC SVNS Championship and Olympic titles, scoring two tries in the gold medal match on a memorable night in Paris. Grandidier Nkanang was no less important to those triumphs and contributed four tries during his home Games. Kennedy – who won this award in 2022 – scored 32 tries during the 2024 series as Ireland finished the regular season as runners-up behind Argentina.
See the full list of nominees for the 2024 World Rugby Awards here. You can follow the red carpet and evening of celebration on World Rugby social platforms, including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube (@WorldRugby).
