Lock Eben Etzebeth, flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit and wing Cheslin Kolbe have all been nominated for World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year in a Springboks-dominated shortlist, but there is no place for South Africa teammate Ox Nche with the prop snubbed by the voting panel.
Loosehead Nche had appeared to be among the standout candidates for the award after an outstanding year at international level, yet has missed out to his three colleagues and Ireland’s Caelan Doris. No prop has ever made the shortlist for the prestigious individual gong, which was first awarded in 2001.
