SA Rugby coach Jacques Nienaber, Eben Etzebeth and Manie Libbok will be representing South Africa at this year’s World Rugby Awards.
Coach Jacques has been nominated for best coach, while Etzebeth has been nominated for the Men’s 15s player of the year and Libbok is nominated for the Men’s 15s breakthrough of the year.
The prestigious awards will be held at the Opéra Garnier in Paris on Sunday, just hours after the highly anticipated Rugby World Cup final showdown.
Congratulatory social media posts have been coming in including Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa who also sent his congratulations to the trio, saying they have made the country proud.
Congratulations to @Springboks coach @jacnienaber and players @EbenEtzebeth and Manie Libbok who have received #WorldRugbyAwards nominations. You have made the country proud. Mazibuye zonke! 🇿🇦 @SportArtsCultur @GovernmentZA @GCISMedia @SABC_Sport @SuperSportTV #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/r5D9Vtg3Jx
— Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture (@zizikodwa) October 26, 2023
Nienaber started his journey with the Boks as an assistant coach to Rassie Erasmus, who is now the SA director of rugby, and was announced as the new head coach of the Springboks in 2020. Nienaber goes head-to-head with the All-Blacks’ coach Ian Foster, Ireland’s Andy Farrell and Fiji’s Simon Raiwalui.
Etzebeth, who is currently the third most capped Springbok player with 118 test caps, has been nominated alongside Ireland Centre Bundee Aki, France scrumhalf Antoine Dupont and New Zealand’s loose forward Ardie Savea.
Meanwhile, Libbok goes against France wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey and New Zealand’s wing and prop Mark Tele’a and Tamaiti Williams.
APPRECIATION:
— Zaheeruddin White (@ItsZaheeruddin) October 26, 2023
Thank you Manie Libbok for your service to your country.
Libbok has been nominated for #WorldRugbyAwards!
Congrats.#RWCFinal #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/CArtrORM1L
Overall, eight countries are represented among the first nominee announcements, with New Zealand leading the way with nine nominations across six categories.
Speaking on the nominations SA rugby president Mark Alexander said these awards recognize the best coaches and players in the world, and to have nominees in three categories is a testament to the class of the coaches and players in South Africa.
