Jordan backed to claim breakthrough award

ALL Blacks wing Will Jordan is being backed to claim World Rugby’s breakthrough player of the year award to deny Wales flyer Louis Rees-zammit the crown.

Four candidates have been nominated for the prestigious trophy, with Jordan and Reeszammit facing competition from England’s new fly-half Marcus Smith and Australia wing Andrew Kellaway.

Wales and Gloucester wing Rees-zammit made his senior international debut in the autumn of 2020 before winning the 2021 Six Nations title a few months later when he scored four tries, including the official touchdown of the championship against Scotland.

He then headed off to South Africa on the British and Irish Lions tour over the summer, their youngest player in 50 years. He has scored a total of five tries in 10 Tests in 2020-21.

But All Blacks back-three star Jordan, who has touched down 15 times in 11 Tests in just his second year of international rugby, has been dubbed the “clear winner” by former All Blacks hooker James Parsons.

“Rees-zammit and Kellaway are extremely talented young men and have both had a massive year in terms of their career compared to where they were at the start to where they are now and well-respected they are internationally,” Parsons told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.

“But I just can’t go past Will

Jordan. Some of the things he’s pulled off this year are just freakish. He is seriously talented and I think a clear winner.”

There will be plenty who will have something to say about that in Wales, where Reeszammit has made such an instant impression.

The foursome are bidding to claim an accolade whose previous winners include Maro Itoje in 2016 and Romain Ntamack in 2019.