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Five Players, One Crown. Who Will Be World Rugby’s Best?

With the international season approaching its final stretch, the race for World Rugby Player of the Year is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing in recent memory. From the relentless physicality of the Boks to the attacking…

By Nicholas Halsey · The Rugby Punt-it

Published: Wednesday, 28 October 2026 at 6:33 AM

Key Things to Know

Nicholas Halsey highlights five top contenders for the 2026 World Rugby Player of the Year award.
The candidates featured are Jordie Barrett, Malcolm Marx, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Will Jordan, and Damian Willemse.
Will Jordan became New Zealand's all-time leading Test try scorer in July 2026.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Writer Nicholas Halsey identifies five leading contenders for the 2026 World Rugby Player of the Year award ahead of the November international window. The selected nominees highlighted by Halsey include New Zealand's Jordie Barrett and Will Jordan, South Africa's Malcolm Marx and Damian Willemse, and France's Louis Bielle-Biarrey.

Halsey highlights key achievements from the season, noting that Jordan surpassed Doug Howlett as New Zealand's all-time leading try scorer, while Bielle-Biarrey set a record with nine Six Nations tries. Halsey argues that upcoming November Tests and the inaugural Nations Championship will ultimately decide who claims the sport's top individual honor.

Read the full article on The Rugby Punt-it

Five Players, One Crown. Who Will Be World Rugby’s Best?

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