Springboks superstar Lukhanyo Am was arguably the finest player on the planet before he was cut down with injury. Image: SA Rugby website
Rassie shares special message about Lukhanyo Am
Director of rugby Rassie Erasmus says it is special to have seen Springboks centre Lukhanyo Am nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year.
Springboks superstar Lukhanyo Am was arguably the finest player on the planet before he was cut down with injury. Image: SA Rugby website
Earlier this week, Lukhanyo Am was confirmed as one of four nominees for the 2022 World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year. Despite Am having suffered a serious injury midway through the Rugby Championship, he has been nominated alongside France’s Antoine Dupont as well as Ireland’s Johnny Sexton and Josh van der Flier.
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The nomination was warmly received by Rassie Erasmus, who beamed with pride while reflecting on the journey Am has taken from humble beginnings down in the Eastern Cape.
“He’s just a really special player, the first time Jacques [Nienaber] and I saw him was when we coached Border at club trials,” Erasmus recalled.
“This guy just stood out, I think he was playing with a pair of takkies. I don’t think he had boots on. We phoned an agent from there and told him to have a look at this guy as he won’t get any exposure.
“From being all over the place, he pushed right through to now being nominated to being one of the world’s best players of the year. We are very proud of him, especially because of where he came from. I’m not going to say a poor background or disadvantaged area, I think he had to fight really hard to get into teams and systems,” he concluded.
Lukhanyo Am is expected to be back from injury early next year
The 28-year-old was in sensational form before suffering his knee injury, with the highly-regarded centre having played in five Tests this year.
However, there is no doubt that Dupont will be the favourite to walk away with this award.
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Returning to a physical format for the first time since the pandemic, the 22nd World Rugby Awards will be handed to their recipients on 20 November from 19:30 CET.
Stars and legends from 15s and Sevens will gather in the iconic Salle des Étoiles for a magnificent ceremony under the High Patronage of HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco.
Selected by the star-studded World Rugby Awards panels, nominees in nine categories were announced throughout Monday on World Rugby social media channels (@WorldRugby) and the World Rugby Media Zone. The other categories to be awarded on Sunday are the World Rugby Referee Award, World Rugby Coach of the Year, Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service and the popular World Rugby Men’s and Women’s 15s Dream Teams of the Year in partnership with Capgemini.
Fans can cast their vote on social media and select their winners for the two International Rugby Players Men’s and Women’s Try of the Year categories until Thursday, 17 November at 23:59 GMT.
Twelve countries are represented among the nominees in Australia, Canada, Chile, England, Fiji, France, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales, with Ireland having the most representatives with eight. Australia are also rewarded for their performances on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and at Rugby World Cup Sevens this year with five nominees in the Men’s and Women’s Sevens Player of the Year categories.
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