South Africa won the 2023 Rugby World Cup, but New Zealand’s Ardi Savea was named Player of the Year at the World Rugby Awards.

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Ardi Savea, the best rugby player of 2023

At the age of 30, Savea had South African Eben Etzebet, Irishman Bundy Aki and Frenchman Antoine Dupont (winner of this prize in 2021) as counter-candidates.

An expert panel of former international players selected Savea, who played a major role in New Zealand’s run to the 2023 World Cup finals and Rugby Championship victory. He replaced another third-row player, Irishman Josh van der Flier.

Ardi Savea is the sixth All Black to be named the World Player of the Year, following Richie McCaw (2006, 2009, 2010), Dan Carter (2005, 2012, 2015), Kieran Read (2013), Brodie Retallick (2014) and Boden. Barrett (2016, 2017), writes Agerpres.

Another New Zealander awarded on the stage of the prestigious Opéra Garnier: Mark Telea (26 years old), named world discovery of the year. The author of three essays during the 2023 World Cup, he was preferred to the Frenchman Louis Biel-Biarre (20).

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Only one South African made the 2023 best XV

France, who were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the World Cup they hosted this autumn, are the most represented nation behind Ireland in the Teams of the Year with five players: Cyril Bale, Charles Ollivon, Antoine Dupont, Damien Penault and Thomas Ramos .

It is interesting that in this ideal team there is only one world champion – Eben Etzebet. Even Coach of the Year has eluded Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber, with Andy Farrell, who has led Ireland to a Six Nations Grand Slam, the favourite.

Composition of the world of the 15th year: Cyril Bale (France), Dan Sheehan (Ireland), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Eben Etzebeth (South Africa), Scott Barrett (New Zealand), Kelan Doris (Ireland), Charles Ollivion (France), Ardi Savea (New Zealand) , Antoine Dupont (France), Richie Munga (New Zealand), Will Jordan (New Zealand), Bundy Aki (Ireland), Harry Ringrose (Ireland), Damian Penault (France), Thomas Ramos (France).

Doohan van der Merwe won essay of the year

The only public vote award, reserved for Essay of the Year, went to Scotland powerhouse Duane van der Merwe for his personal best against England in their Six Nations opener.

The Women’s Rugby XV awards will be presented at a later date at the WXV Finals, a new international tournament created by World Rugby, which concludes on November 4.

New Zealander Tayla Nathan-Wong was chosen as the best rugby player of the year in VII among women, and Rodrigo Isgro of Argentina was chosen among men.

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