Hollywood icon cannot hide his utter disbelief at Springboks snubbing
The almost complete lack of representation of any South Africa player in this year’s World Rugby awards has been the cause of shock in all corners of the world on Monday, including from actor Gerard Butler.
The Springboks’ Lukhanyo Am is the only person included in any one of the eight categories for an award, being nominated for try of the year, which came against the British & Irish Lions.
Despite winning a series against the Lions and climbing to number one in the world rankings, no Springboks player managed to make the men’s player of the year shortlist. Despite winning the Rugby Championship, no All Blacks player made the list either. The four players selected are France’s Antoine Dupont, England’s Maro Itoje and Michael Hooper and Samu Kerevi from Australia.
Photo’s have emerged this week of the Scottish actor in utter disbelief that Springboks captain Siya Kolisi failed to make the shortlist. The flanker’s name, alongside Eben Etzebeth’s, Am’s, Cheslin Kolbe’s and Makazole Mapimpi’s are ones that many feel should have made the list.
While it is not actually confirmed that this is what Butler was gobsmacked about (partly due to the small matter that the photo was taken before the nominees were revealed), it would make perfect sense if he is as outraged as many other fans are across the world.
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WORLD RUGBY AWARDS 2021 NOMINEES
World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year in association with Mastercard
Antoine Dupont (France)
Michael Hooper (Australia)
Maro Itoje (England/British and Irish Lions)
Samu Kerevi (Australia)
World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year in association with Mastercard
Zoe Aldcroft (England)
Caroline Boujard (France)
Laure Sansus (France)
Poppy Cleall (England)
World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year in association with Tudor
Will Jordan (New Zealand)
Andrew Kellaway (Australia)
Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales)
Marcus Smith (England)
World Rugby Coach of the Year
Allan Bunting/Cory Sweeney (New Zealand Women’s Sevens)
Ian Foster (New Zealand Men)
Simon Middleton (England Women)
Dave Rennie (Australia Men)
World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year in association with HSBC
Napolioni Bolaca (Fiji)
Scott Curry (New Zealand)
Marcos Moneta (Argentina)
Jiuta Wainiqolo (Fiji)
World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year in association with HSBC
Anne-Cécile Ciofani (France)
Sarah Hirini (New Zealand)
Alowesi Nakoci (Fiji)
Reapi Ulunisau (Fiji)
International Rugby Players Men’s Try of the Year
Lukhanyo Am (South Africa, v British and Irish Lions on 31 July)
Pierre-Louis Barassi (France, v Australia on 17 July)
Luke Jacobson (New Zealand, v Argentina on 12 September)
Damian Penaud (France, v Scotland on 26 March)
International Rugby Players Women’s Try of the Year
Sara Barattin (Italy, v Scotland on 13 September)
Emilie Boulard (France, v Wales on 3 April)
Abby Dow (England, v France on 24 April)
Romane Ménager (France, v Ireland on 17 April)
