Win the World Cup and they’ll earn a spot

I’M A little disappointed but not surprised that there are no rugby union players on the Sports Personality shortlist. Both Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell made it on to the shortlist for World Rugby player of the year so it feels like one player at least should have made the final 12. Having said that, British sport across the board is so strong that the gold standard is a world title or an event acclaimed as being the most prestigious in its sport, such as the Tour de France. Also, as the ultimate team game, becoming a big name within rugby union — let alone a national celebrity — is difficult. Since SPOTY started in 1954, Jonny Wilkinson is the only rugby union player to win the title, in 2003 when Martin Johnson finished second. So there is a message for the game: if England, or one of the other home nations, wins the 2019 World Cup, I can pretty much guarantee the key player or captain will win that year.