Proud achievement
Top rookie award for Dyantyi
Springbok wing Aphiwe Dyantyi won the Breakthrough Player of the Year award at World Rugby’s annual prize-giving in Monaco on Sunday night.
The 24-year-old was visibly stunned when named in a category where he was pitted against Ireland wing Jordan Larmour and All Black prop Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Dyantyi follows an illustrious list of winners of the award since its inception in 2015.
All Black wing Rieko Ioane won it in 2017‚ England lock Maro Itoje in 2016 and All Black wing Nehe Milner-Skudder in 2015.
The speedy Bok winger marked his Test debut with a try against England in June and has not looked back.
He started in 13 of SA’s 14 Tests in 2018‚ scoring six tries‚ including braces against Argentina and in the win over world champions New Zealand in Wellington.
Upon receiving the award‚ Dyantyi described his year as “more than a roller-coaster”.
“I’ve been truly blessed in so many ways‚ with the people around me‚ who have helped me in the past few years – it’s really amazing‚” Dyantyi said.
“Being part of the Springboks‚ representing our country – it doesn’t get any better.
“I’m very honoured as I never imagined I would ever be the one sitting here‚ receiving an award such as this.
“I just want to keep on challenging myself to keep on improving and hopefully making a difference for our country‚ but also in [the life of] someone else, who will see my story as an inspiration to do something great out there.”
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander was full of praise.
“Aphiwe has been sensational since making the step up to senior provincial rugby and after a superb debut season for the Lions in Super Rugby‚ he was deservedly called up to the Springbok squad‚” he said.
“Despite his limited experience at international level‚ he never looked out of place in the Springbok jersey and he made an immediate impact.
“We are all very proud of him.”
Alexander also congratulated the other SA nominees – Malcolm Marx and Faf de Klerk (Men’s Player of the Year), Rassie Erasmus (Coach of the Year) and the Springboks (Team of the Year).
De Klerk and Marx lost out to Ireland flyhalf Jonny Sexton in the main award, while Ireland coach Joe Schmidt was named Coach of the Year and Ireland were Team of the Year.