Men’s World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit could be set to undergo surgery on a troublesome shoulder now that the Test season has come to an end. The tireless blindside enjoyed yet another blockbuster season in green and gold where he was a central figure to the team’s success thanks to his massive engine on defence while he added more tries to his game during this campaign.

SA Rugby boss, Mark Alexander, has hailed the Springboks for their “simply remarkable” achievements in 2024. Under the guidance of Rassie Erasmus, the Boks finished their year with 11 wins from 13 matches, while Pieter-Steph du Toit was on Sunday named World Rugby’s Player of the Year for a second time. He also won the award in 2019.

South Africa's Pieter-Steph du Toit was named rugby's world player of the year for the second time on Sunday at a ceremony in Monaco, while England's Ellie Kildunne took the women's honours and Antoine Dupont and Maddison Levi claimed the sevens titles.

France captain Antoine Dupont, who won the 15-a-side award in 2021, becomes the first man to also win the Sevens gong. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Springboks legends Jean de Villiers and Schalk Burger have hailed Pieter-Steph du Toit after his World Rugby Player of the Year success.

The Boks dominated World Rugby’s team of the year with seven players, namely the three World Player nominees, Du Toit, Kolbe and Etzebeth, as well as prop Ox Nche, hooker Malcolm Marx and centres Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel.

England full-back Ellie Kildunne wins World Rugby's women's player of the year award, while South Africa's Pieter-Steph du-Toit takes the men's award.