The Springboks, who defended their Rugby World Cup title in France, Paris, last year and their inspirational captain, Siya Kolisi, have been nominated for the 25th Laureus World Sports Awards.
The Laureus Awards is an annual award ceremony honouring individuals and teams from the world of sports along with sporting achievements throughout the year.
The team is no stranger to the awards, after winning the Laureus World Team of the Year awards in 2007 and 2019 respectively, the years that they won the World Cup.
The Boks have been nominated for the same award again, following last year’s triumph in Paris.
But it won’t be easy this year, as the team will be up against Manchester City Men’s Football team, Spain Women’s Football team, the European Ryder Cup golf team, the Oracle Red Bull Racing Formula-1 team, and Germany Men’s Basketball team.
SA Rugby President Mark Alexander said he is proud of the recognition the Springboks and Kolisi received for their brave efforts to become the first country to win the Rugby World Cup four times and wished them 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.
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,” said an elated Alexander.
Kolisi is nominated in the Laureus World Comeback of the Year category.
He returned to action just 119 days after sustaining a partial tear of his anterior cruciate ligament and staged a dramatic recovery to captain the Springboks to victory in Paris last year.
“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.
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,” explained Alexander.
Kolisi will be competing with gymnast Simone Biles, soccer player Sébastien Haller, athlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson, tennis player Markéta Vondroušová and basketballer Jamal Murray.
Meanwhile, Kirsten Neuschȁfer has been nominated for the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award.
The award is for the daredevils and risk-takers who we watch from the edge of our seats.
Neuschȁfer became the first woman to win a solo sailing round-the-world race via the three great capes after victory in The Golden Globe Race.
The awards will be held in Madrid, Spain, on 22 April.
