IRELAND BACK ROW Erin King has been named 2024 World Rugby Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year.
The 21-year-old made a brilliant crossover from 7s to the Ireland 15s squad in recent months, impressing for Scott Bemand’s side in wins over Australia, New Zealand, and the USA.
King will return to 7s duty with Ireland in Dubai next weekend as the SVNS Series kicks off, but she collected her prize at World Rugby’s awards ceremony in Monaco this evening.
Her Ireland team-mate, Aoife Wafer, was named in the Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year.
Wafer, who is also only 21, was brilliant for Ireland this year in the Six Nations and WXV, swiftly becoming one of the leading back rows in the game.
Meanwhile, Irish players Tadhg Beirne, Caelan Doris, Jamison Gibson-Park and James Lowe were named in the Men’s 15s Dream Team of the Year after their impressive performances for Andy Farrell’s Ireland.
Springboks blindside flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit was named Men’s 15s Player of the Year for the second time, having also won the award in 2019.
England’s Ellie Kildunne accepted the honour of Women’s 15s Player of the Year
Wallace Sititi of New Zealand won the Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year award.
France’s Jérôme Daret was named World Rugby’s Coach of the Year for 2024 after guiding his side to Olympic gold.
French scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec’s try against England was named the Men’s 15s Try of the Year.
It was Marine Menager of France whose score against Canada was announced as the Women’s 15s Try of the Year.
Maddison Levi of Australia won the Women’s 7s Player of the Year award, while France’s Antoine Dupont scooped the men’s 7s award.
I reckon that only in ‘modern’ Ireland would you get people posting to complain that players from their country’s team ARE getting awards. I’d be fairly sure in South Africa, in particular, the posts will be from fans complaining that NOT ENOUGH of their players are selected for this 15.
@Kevin Ryan: There is a caveat though. I went looking for the posts you are referring too and I couldn’t find them… then I noticed about 10 muted comments – Harry Barry, Niall English and Ray Ridge. I don’t think we should include any of those guys in “modern Ireland”
@Paul Ennis: And, regrettably, a fair few people giving their comments the thumbs up
@Paul Ennis: Yes its them so so annoying them trolls
@Kevin Ryan: They must a gang are something i mutted them as well bar rr he kind of funny but also annoying negitive
James Lowe? lol
@5sZl1dX2: Crazy. And Gibson Park ahead of Dupont and Roigaard. No, Savea. I think we can take these things with a big pinch of salt , bit like the world rankings.
@Ray Ridge: to be fair, Dupont played very little XV’s this year. None of the three Leinster players in the XV actually being from Leinster is pretty funny too
@5sZl1dX2: The Munster player in the XV is from Leinster though.
@Fagin Strauss: and?
@5sZl1dX2: Is this based on international performances alone, or does it take club performances into account??
@Ray Ridge: I assume International only. Lowe played more for Ireland than he did for Leinster in 2024. That and when you’d look at the Boks playing in Japan, that would hardly be much cause for inclusion
@5sZl1dX2: Doris was poor in the 4 big games for Ireland this year. Whereas, Savea was outstanding in the big games for New Zealand.
@Ray Ridge: nothing new with Doris. Shines against poor opposition. Seen plenty of references in the media this weekend that he’s “back to his best” after an Ireland win vs a poor Fiji side
@Ray Ridge: tend to agree.
@5sZl1dX2: yeah!
@Ray Ridge: I think you need to be more gracious about our own players. Tadhg Beirne makes the cut for a second tine – that is some achievement. He is an under appreciated player in these shores . More recognised outside where the South Dublin media have no influence. I agree on Savea and Dupont but the latter stepped out for a large section of the year and JGP has been really good as well. I think we all agree Dupont is the best player in the world right now. However his absence doesn’t impugn all other selections.
@Fagin Strauss: let go: cost Leinster after. An unbelievable error. Properly Developed in Wales. Harnessed in Munster. Serious player ….
@JJB: I would say the staff at the Southside People are delighted that you think their newspaper is so influential ;)
@Paul Ennis: you have blinkers about this as well. There is a Leinster agenda set that influences the narrative. Beirne is a case in point. Most south side media consistently purr about J Mc Carthy and J Ryan when one of the most unique and talented locks lreland ever had plies his trade week in and week out with consistent aplomb in Munster and in the green . I guarantee you if J McCarthy made this team the headline would lead accordingly. Beirne has made this world team twice – the prophet only gets recognition outside his own country it seems. Luckily AF is immune to the SDM, by and large, being a working class English man who came through the hard way and knows substance over hype. Otherwise, Beirne would not get a look in.
@JJB: why cant all irish supporters get along and support all irish sides
@Shawn: that is possible if we get balanced and objective media treatment which is my gripe. Thee TBeirne csse always interests me. A top 3 celebrated Irish player with any tugby head I chat to from abroad. Here, it is all J Ryan this and J Mc Varthy that. All the while, one of the best locks in the world plays for us yet according to South Dublin media and many blue posters here, he should be displaced to accommodate the Leinster heros. Last Saturday Casey was way better than Sam P : who gets all the column inches? I rest my case on the “why” as you asked.
PSDT……legend.
@Stuart: He’s a class act Stuart. Fully deserved.
@Stuart: Told you Pieter and Wallace were shoe ins Stuart. In fairness you called it also. However, I wouldn’t have selected that team if I had 100 guesses.
@Ray Ridge: on form I’m struggling with the rest but these would be shoo ins for me ..and I do think DDA and kriel are the best centre combo since the world cup
@Stuart:
1. OX
2. Mauvaka
3.
4. Etzebeth
5. Beirne
6.
7. PSDT
8. Doris/savea
9. JGP
10.
11. Kolbe
12. DDA
13. Kriel
14.
15.
@Stuart: agreed- some player
@Stuart: no disagreement here- unbelievably good player. Consistent excellence.
Congratulations to Erin. She’s made such an impact on Irish rugby in a very short time and she’s still only 21!
Absolutely agree with this. Maybe a bit disappointed that more Irish players were not recognised seeing they were NUMBER 1 for so long.
@Tom Reilly: Why, have we ever got to a world final or even near?
@Richard: Ah yeah the old WC put down. My friend the WC is like a mini rugby tournament where teams can beat each other and still a beaten team can win. Join the dots!!!
@Tom Reilly: This is true. Ireland have only ever been close to contenders and that was 2023 to be fair. Probably the only winners of the tournament to have been genuinely and without question the best team in it were 2015 ABs and 2023 Bokke.