The first three winners of the World Rugby Awards 2021 have been unveiled on World Rugby social and digital platforms. Photo: SA Rugby website
Am up for Try of the Year award, Nienaber overlooked
Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am has been congratulated for his nomination in the Men’s Try of the Year Award category.
The first three winners of the World Rugby Awards 2021 have been unveiled on World Rugby social and digital platforms. Photo: SA Rugby website
Mark Alexander, president of SA Rugby, commended Am for being named as one of four nominees for the International Rugby Players Men’s Try of the Year Award following his sublime five-pointer in the South Africa “A” team’s victory over the British & Irish Lions in the Lions Series earlier this year.
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Am, who crossed the chalk after Springbok speedster Cheslin Kolbe produced some magic by dancing his way up-field before making a well-timed off-load, was nominated for the prestigious award alongside French centres Pierre-Louis Barassi and Damian Penaud, as well as All Blacks loose forward Luke Jacobson.
“On behalf of SA Rugby and South Africa’s passionate rugby fans, we would like to congratulate Lukhanyo for being nominated for the International Rugby Players Men’s Try of the Year award,” said Alexander.
“Only four players are nominated for this prestigious award and being part of that selected group is in itself a huge achievement.
“It was certainly a great try, and it underlined the quality of the players and skill we have in this special Springbok team.”
Fans will be able to vote for their nominee on the Awards’ voting website and join the conversation using #WorldRugbyAwards. Voting opened on Monday and will run until Sunday, 21 November.
However, there was a sense of irony to Am’s nomination considering that no Springbok players featured in the World Rugby Player of the Year awards nomination category.
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Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber, who coached the team to a Lions series victory, as well as away wins over the All Blacks, Wales and Scotland, was also snubbed for the Coach of the Year award.
Instead, All Blacks coach Ian Foster, Australia’s Dave Rennie, England Women’s coach Simon Middleton and New Zealand Women’s Sevens coaches Allan Bunting and Cory Sweeney were included in the four-person nomination list.
The awards will be virtually handed to the respective award winners from 6 to 10 December.
