Siya Kolisi and Springboks shortlisted for prestigious international awards after World Cup success

After claiming their second successive Rugby World Cup title in France last year, the Springboks and their captain Siya Kolisi have been rewarded by being nominated for top Laureus awards.

The Boks are in familiar territory as they have been nominated for the Laureus World Team of the Year, a prize which they previously won after their triumphs at the 2007 and 2019 World Cups.

Tough competition

They are up against the Manchester City Men’s football team, the Spain Women’s football team, the European Ryder Cup Golf team, the Oracle Red Bull Racing Formula-1 team, and Germany’s Men’s Basketball team.

Meanwhile, Kolisi, who made a miraculous recovery from a serious knee injury sustained last April to lead South Africa to their second successive World Cup title, has been nominated for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award.

The Laureus Awards honours, recognises and celebrates the world’s greatest athletes, sport’s inspirational power as well as its ability to change lives. The awards ceremony be held in Madrid in April.

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander is proud of the recognition which the Boks and their captain received courtesy of their Laureus nominations, after they became the first country to lift the Webb Ellis Cup as winners for the fourth time.

He expressed his delight at the nominations and wished the Boks and Kolisi luck for their respective awards.

“The Springboks deserve every ounce of recognition they receive for their massive accomplishment in France last year, and we are delighted to see them in line for the Laureus World Team of the Year Award,” said Alexander.

“Their heroics on and off the field were remarkable, especially considering their tough road to the World Cup final.

“But the victory in France was more than just an 80-minute rugby match – it was a triumph for South Africa both in nation building and social cohesion, and we hope that the effects of the Boks’ success will continue to radiate through the sport and transfer to other sporting codes for years to come.”

Special praise for Kolisi

Alexander singled Kolisi out for special praise after the 32-year-old fought his way back from his injury setback to lead the Boks to World Cup glory.

“Siya’s hard work and determination to recover for the World Cup, and the fact that he managed to achieve this feat beyond all doubts was special,” he added.

“It takes a warrior to do something so remarkable, and that journey made it even more extraordinary to see him lift the cup for the second time in a row.

“We are extremely proud of the Springboks and Siya, and we wish them luck for the awards ceremony.”

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