Rugby Union Awards 2024, including Antoine Dupont Magic and a Double Springboks

Another exciting year at Rugby has come and gone to captivate fans around the world.

The Red Roses reached the other six nations Grand Slam and the Springboks showcased their strength with a Rugby Championship crown, while in the club match Toulouse secured a top 14 finish and the Champions Cup double.

Sevens, the French men and New Zealand women won gold as Sevens approached the biggest stages of Paris 2024.

New stars like Aoife Wafer and Wallace Sititi emerged, while old hands including Courtney Lawes and Portia Woodman-Wickcliffe gave farewells to savour.

The independentRugby correspondent Harry Latham-Coyle has picked out some of the highlights of 2024.

Game of the year

A year full of rugby treats, from the coming of age of England v Ireland through the glorious Glorious Grand Slam triumph in Bordeaux to an action-packed November. My favorite game, however, might have been The Champions Cup final While Toulouse edged out Leinster in more time at Tottenham, a fabulous ground that played host to some good nervy shredding that oozed energy and intensity. Any opportunity to see the remarkable Antoine Dupont in the flesh is to be savored.

Time of year

Speaking of which… While the 15-a-side game provided plenty of highlights, Sevens’ success at Paris 2024 felt like a huge moment for a format facing more than a few questions about its future. While Fiji’s gold medals in Rio and Tokyo were great, it felt like rugby’s real arrival at the Olympics, and Dupont and the rest of the Triumph of the French team Really launched the games in style.

Men’s Player of the Year

Dupont Dazzled and Eben Etzebeth continue to reach a high level 12 years into his Test career, but Pieter-Steph du Toit was a more than worthy winner of the equivalent world rugby prize. On the blindside or, when needs be, in the second row, his consistency was a key driver in another superlative Springbok year.

Women’s Player of the Year

Ellie Kildunne. Standing out even in a side with as much talent as England Women will show just what a special player Kildunne is. While the 25-year-old’s jump to Sevens for the Olympics hasn’t gone as planned, the fullback feels capable of scoring every time she gets the ball. A force for good off the field too.

One to watch in 2025 (women)…

Already a Titan in seven, how Maddi Levi Adapts to the 15-15 game could be key as the Wallaroos look to go deep at next year’s World Cup. Jo Yapp is one of the slimmest coaches in the sport, and utilizing the 22-year-old’s freakish athleticism and other crossover stars could spark rapid improvement for an Australian side many believe the best sides next summer. Young Gun Caitlyn Halse also looks like a player of vast potential.

One to watch in 2025 (men)…

A Lions year will provide plenty of opportunities for some of Britain and Ireland’s brightest young people to impress both with Andy Farrell’s touring party and with their unions while the big guns are away. It’s hard not to be excited about England’s potential Asher Opoku-Fordjourimproving all the time and capable of playing both sides at a high level. He is also a confident child.

Men’s Team of the Year

1 ox nche, 2 peato Mauvaka, 3 Thomas du Toit; 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Tadhg Beirne; 6 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 7 Jack Willis, 8 Caelan Doris; 9 Antoine Dupont, 10 Damian McKenzie; 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 13 Jesse Kriel, 14 Louis Bielle-Biarrey; 15 Juan Cruz Mallia.

Women’s Team of the Year

1 Hope Rogers, 2 Neve Jones, 3 Maud Muir; 4 Zoe Aldcroft, 5 Laetitia Royer; 6 Sophie de Goede, 7 Aoife Wafer, 8 Alex Matthews; 9 Natasha Hunt, 10 Holly Aitchison; 11 Katelyn Vahaakolo, 12 Tatyana Heard, 13 Meg Jones, 14 Abby Dow; 15 Ellie Kildunne.

Coach of the Year

Franco Smith comes very close to masterminding a Glasgow Urc triumph that few saw coming; The profile of Sean Lynn from Gloucester-Hartpury does not reflect his work as Ringmaster of a very successful circus; Phil Dowson and Sam Vesty are an exceptional double act in Northampton. But it must be Rassie Erasmuswho cultivated a Springboks side with an air of almost invulnerability while rotating and refreshing his team in a way that few coaches can.

Executive Bungle of the Year

A competitive category. EPCR’s decision to turn down a reported offer from TNT Sports for TV rights to the Champions Cup and then accept one half of Premier Sports’ value is not a great look, while the Rugby Football Union and Bill Sweeney announcing huge bonus payouts at the same time as recording a record loss really makes Rankle. But the prize goes to a perennial competitor: Welsh Rugby UnionThe mismanagement of the women’s procurement process reflected an organization that has done more harm than good over the past two years, with so much mismanaged.

Three hopes for 2025

A passionate series of Lions. Australia’s recent improvement offers hope of a gripping tour down under, with fans out in force to add vital color to the concept.

A Changing World Cup of Perception. Already with record levels of interest, the 2025 Women’s World Cup could be a transformative tournament for the sport.

Ongoing support for those leaving the game. Some of the hardest conversations in rugby are with those who have felt let down by a sport they have given so much to. Vital work is already underway in this area and must continue.