Split image of Springboks lock Eben Etzebeth and England’s Maro Itoje.
Following a sensational international season in 2024, we invite our readers to vote for their Team of the Year.
The Planet Rugby writers have mulled over the best and brightest stars of the year and have drawn up a four-man shortlist for each position, leaving the rest up to you.
Run through the list and cast your vote and don’t forget to share it with your fellow rugby fanatics.
Having already released the backline options, here are our nominees and polls in the pack.
Number eight
The plethora of talent in the number eight jumper in international rugby in 2024 made it incredibly difficult to limit the options to just four. Ultimately, the likes of Joaquin Oviedo, Rob Valetini and Gregory Alldritt missed the cut for a quartet of world-class players.
Ireland captain Caelan Doris had a magnificent year where he was a consistent performer throughout 2024, helping the side to the Six Nations title and a drawn series against the Springboks in South Africa. Meanwhile, last year’s World Rugby Player of the Year, Ardie Savea, didn’t quite reach the highs that he did in 2023 but he was still fantastic for Scott Robertson’s side. The All Blacks star is in the running for the jumper along with Springboks powerhouse Jasper Wiese who was seriously impressive after returning from suspension. Finally, England haven’t had the best of years but Ben Earl has been sensational for Steve Borthwick’s side with his immense work-rate on both sides of the ball.
Cast your vote for the number eight below.
Openside flanker
Again, the entire back-row caused major debate at Planet Rugby towers with Juan Martín González especially unlucky to miss out on a nomination.
He is beaten to the shortlist by his international teammate Pablo Matera, who cracked World Rugby’s Dream XV, as well as the superb Wallaby Fraser McReight and Ireland’s work-horse Josh van der Flier. Finally, Springboks captain Siya Kolisi didn’t impress at Racing 92 but was sublime when he pulled on the Green and Gold jumper throughout the July internationals, Rugby Championship and Autumn Nations Series.
Cast your vote for the openside flanker below.
Blindside flanker
It’s quite telling of the competition on the blindside that a player who enjoyed such a great run of form in 2024 as Chandler Cunningham-South does not make the cut.
World Rugby Player of the Year, Pieter-Steph du Toit, does make the shortlist after a brilliant 2024 and is rivalled for a spot in our Readers’ Team of the Year along with Argentina’s Marcos Kremer, France’s Francois Cros and the Breakthrough Player of the Year, Wallace Sititi.
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