Erin King makes history becoming first Irish female player to win an individual World Rugby award
HISTORY MADE: Erin King becomes the first Irish woman to win an individual award by picking up World Rugby Women's 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year. Picture: Frederic Dides / AFP
Erin King has won the World Rugby Women's 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year award at the star studded awards held in Monaco.
King makes history by becoming the first Irish woman to win an individual award beating out Australia's Caitlyn Halse, England's Maddie Feaunati and New Zealand's Hannah King for the award.
Flanker King was part of the Ireland 7s side at the Olympics in Paris this year and was Ireland's match winner against New Zealand in September when they overcame the Black Ferns by two points at the WXV1.
King was born in Sydney and moved to Blessington when she was 12 and has played with the Ireland sevens since 2021.
King made her international debut in September and has been hugely influential in her four appearances to date.
King was called into the Ireland squad by head coach Scott Bemand after the Olypmics and made her debut against Australia as a replacement in Belfast were Ireland won 36-10 with King impressing with her powerful ball carrying ability.
She came off the bench against for Ireland against the Black Ferns scoring two tries including the leveller which Dannah O'Brien converted to secure the win.
A standout star in Ireland's golden year 🌟
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 24, 2024
Erin King is named the Women's 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year#WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/Yz9RpMJPI5
Aoife Wafer has been named in the Women's 15s Dream Team of the Year 2024. Wafer was a key player for Ireland this year. The powerful flanker drove Ireland forward in every game and scored twice in Ireland's win over New Zealand.
2024's all-star lineup 😮💨
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 24, 2024
Introducing the Women's 15s Dream Team of the Year #WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/scZcqduKb9
Wafer is joined by USA's Hope Rogers, Zoe Aldcroft, Alex Matthews, Holly Aitchison, Abby Dow, Maud Muir and Women's 15s Player of the Year Ellie Kildunne from England, Georgia Ponsonby, Sylvia Brunt and Katelyn Vahaakolo of New Zealand, France's Pauline Bourdon Sansus and Canada's Alex Tessier, Laetitia Royer and Sophie De Goede in the side.
New Zealand's Wallace Sitit won the Men's 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year. He follows in the footsteps of fellow All Blacks Nehe Milner-Skudder, Will Jordan, Mark Tele'a and Rieko Ioane to win the award. Ireland Jamie Osborne, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu from South Africa and England's Immanuel Feyi-Waboso were also nominated for the award.
South Africa's Pieter-Steph Du Toit wins the Men's 15s Player of the Year award. He saw off Springbok colleagues Eben Etzebeth and Cheslin Kolbe and Ireland captain Caelin Doris. Du Toit won the award previously in 2019.
Doris was named alongside Tadhg Beirne, Jamison Gibson-Park and James Lowe on the Men's 15s Dream Team of the Year. Player of the Year Du Toit is named with fellow Springboks Ox Niche, Malcolm Mars, Eben Etzebeth, Damian De Allende, Jesse Kriel and Cheslin Kolbe. New Zealand's Tyrel Lomax, Damian McKenzie and Will Jordon are named along with Argentina's Pablo Matera.
The supreme XV of 2024 ⚔️
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 24, 2024
Presenting the Men's 15s Dream Team of the Year #WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/4Ub6KiK2Za
Antoine Dupont takes the Men's Sevens Player of the Year. Dupont lit up the sevens circuit when he joined and key in France winning Olympic gold in Paris during the summer. He saw off fellow nominees Ireland's Terry Kennedy and Aaron Grandidier Nkanang of France.
It's Antoine's world, we're just all living in it 🌍#WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/r4kWOYkron
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 24, 2024
Kennedy was named in the Mens Sevens Dream Team of the Year joined by Dupont, Selvyn Davids from South Africa, Aaron Grandidier Nkanang of France, Australia's Nathan Lawson, Fijian Ponipate Loganimasi and Argentina's Matias Osadczuck.
This lineup 😮💨
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 24, 2024
Introducing the Men's Sevens Dream Team of the Year, in partnership with HSBC #WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/9KVnddX9Ba
: Erin King, Ireland
Abby Dow (England), Katlyn Vahaakolo (New Zealand), Alex Tessier (Canada), Sylvia Brunt (New Zealand), Ellie Kildunne (England), Holly Aitchison (England), Pauline Bourdon Sansus (France); Hope Rogers (USA), Georgia Ponsonby (New Zealand), Maud Muir (England), Zoe Aldcroft (England), Laetitia Royer (Canada), Aoife Wafer (Ireland), Sophie De Goede (Canada), Alex Matthews (England).
: Ellie Kildunne, England
: Wallace Sititi, New Zealand
: Nolann Le Garrec, France (v England, Six Nations)
Marine Menager, France (v Canada, WXV1)
Jerome Daret, France
: Sergio Parisse, Italy
: Vickii Cornborough, England
: Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa), James Lowe (Ireland), Jess Kriel (South Africa), Damian De Allande (South Africa), Will Jordan (New Zealand), Damian McKenzie (New Zealand), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland); Ox Niche (South Africa), Malcolm Marx (South Africa), Tyrel Lomax (New Zealand), Eben Etzebeth (South Africa), Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Pablo Matera (Argentina), Peter Steph Du Toit (South Africa), Caelan Doris (Ireland).
: Pieter-Steph Du Toit, South Africa
: Olivia Apps (Canada), Michaela Blyde (New Zealand), Kirsii Kirshe (USA), Maddison Levi (Australia), Ilona Maher (USA), Ioria Miller (New Zealand), Seraphine Okemba (France).
Maddison Levi, Australia
Antoine Dupont, France
: Selvyn Davids (South Africa), Antoine Dupont (France), Aaron Grandidier Nkanang (France), Terry Kennedy (Ireland), Nathan Lawson (Australia), Ponipate Loganimasi (Fiji) and Matias Osadczuck (Argentina)
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