All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi has been acknowledged as World Rugby's breakthrough player of the year in a ceremony in Monaco this morning.
Sititi was outstanding for the All Blacks this year despite his relative inexperience; he hadn't played Super Rugby until making his debut for the Chiefs in 2024 and took every opportunity for the national team in playing 10 Tests.
Sititi, the son of former Samoa captain Semo Sititi, debuted off the bench against Fiji in July, and made a huge impression in his first Test start against South Africa in Cape Town in September, on his 22nd birthday.
He was undroppable from then on; starting all seven remaining Tests. He was the only All Black to start all five on their tour of Japan and Europe.
Sititi beat fellow nominees England wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Springboks first-five Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Ireland centre or fullback Jamie Osborne.
South Africa flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit and England fullback Ellie Kildunne were named World Rugby's players of the year.
Du Toit, also the 2019 winner, became only the fourth men's player to win the award at least twice, after New Zealanders Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Beauden Barrett.
Despite the Springboks' policy of rotation, Du Toit showed his value by appearing in 10 of their 13 tests, and played the full game in eight of them.
The double World Cup winner helped the Springboks win their first Rugby Championship since 2019 and achieve a first unbeaten autumn tour of Europe in 11 years.
He missed yesterday's tour-ending win against Wales in Cardiff because of a shoulder issue.
Du Toit was crowned ahead of teammates Eben Etzebeth and Cheslin Kolbe, and Ireland captain Caelan Doris.
Kildunne's award capped an impressive year in which she was also the Women's Six Nations best player.
In an unbeaten year with England, she won a Six Nations Grand Slam, retained the WXV1 title and scored 14 tries in 10 tests. She also had time to help Britain in the Paris Olympics sevens.
Also nominated were teammate and No. 8 Alex Matthews, France scrumhalf Pauline Bourdon Sansus and Canada flyhalf Alex Tessier.
Kildunne was the fourth England winner in the last five awards.
Erin King became the first Irishwoman to win an individual award when she was chosen the women's breakthrough player of the year.
King also went to the Olympics, and made her 15s debut only in September, when the back-rower helped Ireland finish second in the WXV1 after a historic win over world champion New Zealand.
All Blacks fullback Will Jordan, prop Tyrel Lomax and first-five Damian McKenzie were named in World Rugby's men's XV of the year.
Black Ferns hooker Georgia Ponsonby, wing Katelyn Vahaakolo and centre Sylvia Brunt were named in the women's XV of the year.
The All Blacks coach, reflecting on his first year in charge, said he will make a submission to the NZ Rugby board about changing the selection criteria.
Rugby
Sunday 4:40pm
Wallace Sititi's development with the All Blacks this year has stunned the rugby world but he was always destined for big things, writes Andrew Saville.
Rugby
Wed, Nov 20
Wallace Sititi has been nominated for world breakthrough player of the year. He has claims to be recognised among the world's best, writes Patrick McKendry.
Rugby
Tue, Nov 19
The coach of the year was Jerome Daret, for guiding the France men's sevens team to a first Olympic gold medal and first world series title.
The France men, thanks to the injection of Antoine Dupont, had never previously medaled in the Olympics — didn't even qualify for the 2021 Tokyo Games — and its best previous finish in world series history was fourth.