Former New Zealand flyhalf Stephen Donald has identified an All Black and a Springbok as contenders for the 2026 World Rugby Player of the Year award.
Donald believes All Blacks centre Jordie Barrett is a strong contender for the award, while backing Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx – who won it last year – to be among the nominees.
Speaking on The Aftermatch podcast, Donald praised Barrett’s all-round game and work rate in the opening Bledisloe Cup Test against the Wallabies.
“Incredible performance again,” Donald said. “It’s special to watch not just the fancy stuff that he does, it’s how hard he works. When you think of everything he does, he is in some form.”
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Donald then turned his attention to the World Rugby Player of the Year nominations, predicting that Marx would be among the four contenders after another impressive run of performances for South Africa.
“Jordie definitely. You’ll see someone like a Marx who’ll be part of the four, and then maybe another South African – take your pick – and I’d imagine someone will come out of the Six Nations. Maybe Finn Russell.”
Marx strengthened his claims during the Springboks’ Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series win against the All Blacks, where many agreed that he was the standout player across both teams.
He scored match-defining tries in the third and fourth Tests in Johannesburg and Baltimore, and his mauling, scrumming and breakdown work once again underlined his value to the world champions.
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Photo: Floris van Schouwenburg/Gallo Images
The post Beaver backs RGR duo for top award appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Former New Zealand flyhalf Stephen Donald has identified an All Black and a Springbok as contenders for the 2026 World Rugby Player of the Year award.
The post Beaver backs RGR duo for top award appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
