Malcom Marx: The South African Rugby Player Wins the 2025 World Award of the Year

Malcom Marx Crowned World Rugby Player of the Year 2025

The South African hooker Malcom Marx has been awarded the World Rugby Player of the Year 2025. Marx beat out teammates Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ox Nche, as well as French winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, to claim the prestigious recognition. He becomes the first hooker to win the award since Keith Wood, who achieved it in the inaugural edition of 2001. Marx was named Player of the Match in the 24-13 victory over Ireland on Saturday, before being recognized as the Player of the Year. England vs. Argentina: Elliot Daly starts as winger after foot injury

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Du Toit aimed to become the first South African, and only the third player after Dan Carter and Richie McCaw, to win the award three times, following his victories in 2019 and 2024.

New Zealand’s second row, Fabian Holland, took home the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award, beating out England’s Henry Pollock, South Africa’s Ethan Hooker, and Joseph-Aukuso Suali’i. It’s the third consecutive year that an All Black has won the award, following in the footsteps of Mark Tele’a in 2023 and Wallace Sititi last year, which raises the total record to five New Zealand winners in the nine times the award has been given.