The Springbok flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit was named as the World Rugby Player of the Year for 2024 in Monaco on Sunday.

Du Toit became the first South African in history to win the prestigious accolade on two occasions, and the fourth player to win it twice or more after the All Blacks trio of Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Beauden Barrett.

Du Toit beat his teammates Eben Etzebeth and Cheslin Kolbe as well as Ireland's Caelen Doris to the title. Du Toit told OFM Sport that having Etzebeth and Kolbe nominated as well makes it that more special.

“To have those guys there, it’s just an honour to be nominated with them. We see what records Eben has broken and a certain talent Cheslin has in the way he can change a game,” said Du Toit.

“Just to be named with those guys is a huge honour and a privilege. And I'm just grateful and it's definitely just a blessing from the skies and that I'm here at the moment.”

Du Toit, who missed the Test against Wales on Saturday due to a shoulder injury added that just being a part of this current Springbok team is special and it’s important to enjoy every single moment of the journey. He feels that if it was up to him, every single player in the squad would have been named as the World Rugby Player of the Year.

“Yeah, it's a huge honour and a privilege to be here at this awards dinner – it was quite a hectic schedule to get here tonight, but I'm quite happy to be here,” said Du Toit.

Pieter-Steph du Toit after being named the World Rugby Player of the Year in 2019 - X

“Again, it's an honour and a privilege, and of course to be part of a Springbok team like we had this year, it's unbelievable and the way we play it and the squad that we've built, with coaches we have, it's a huge honour and a privilege to be part of that squad.

“We’ve got a saying in the Springboks – ‘we don’t count our days, we make our days count’, so again, I've been part of the Springbok team for quite a while now, and this is a life lesson I've learnt. It's quite vital, not just in sport, but in life at the moment as well. So it's something that I'm trying to live the philosophy for my whole life and then just try and give my best every time I put on the Springbok jersey and every other jersey that I play in - you never know, we need your last game.”

The other South Africans who have previously won the award are Schalk Burger and Bryan Habana.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport