Well, the Wallabies finish this week against the cheese eating surrender monkeys. Let’s hope for a better outing than the Irish. Poor Wales get a pissed off New Zealand Team. Ireland and South Africa don’t like each other. England and Argentina is always special. However as always I will take a different path.
World Rugby Player of the Year Awards
Can someone say junket
Each nominee has been voted by the World Rugby Awards panel, comprised of former legends of the game, Jacques Burger, Fiona Coghlan, Victor Matfield, Drew Mitchell, Ugo Monye, Sergio Parisse, Kieran Read and Blaine Scully, ensuring that the highest accolades in the sport are a peer recognition reflecting of both excellence on the field and inspiration off it.
The recipients of the World Rugby Awards 2025 men’s categories will be revealed across World Rugby’s digital platforms on Saturday, 22 November, ensuring fans everywhere can share in the excitement. In addition, the highly anticipated World Rugby Dream Team of the Year will be unveiled on Tuesday, 25 November, showcasing the standout performers from across the rugby world.
International Rugby Players Association Men’s 15s Try of the Year
Fans around the world will once again play a decisive role in celebrating the most spectacular score of the season. The winner will be the most popular try as voted by fans on World Rugby and RugbyPass Instagram channels (voting closes on Thursday, 20 November).
- Santiago Cordero (Argentina, v British and Irish Lions – June)
- Santiago Pedrero (Chile, v Samoa, South America/Pacific Play-off, RWC 2027 qualifier – October)
- Lekima Tagitagivalu (Fiji, v Australia, men’s international – July)
- Tupou Vaa’i (New Zealand, v France, men’s international – July)
World Rugby Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year
Recognising emerging talents who have made a significant impact on the international stage in 2025.
- Fabian Holland (New Zealand)
- Ethan Hooker (South Africa)
- Henry Pollock (England)
- Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (Australia)
World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year
Celebrating the individual who has consistently delivered world‑class performances and inspired fans across the globe.
- Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France)
- Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)
- Malcolm Marx (South Africa)
- Ox Nche (South Africa)
My Picks
Try Santiago Pedrero
Emerging Player Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
Player of the Year Ox Nche has not been as good this year but was robbed last year and a prop has never won it. #justiceforfatties
Samoa Tie With Belgium To Go To RWC 2027
Sport can be cruel sometimes I feel for the Belgium boys. Hopefully this can be the wake-up call for the highly dysfunctional set up in Samoa. Samoa have been in every since 1991 and it would have been a blow for them to miss the tourney in Australia as they have a massive diaspora here.
On an incredible night at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai, Samoa dug deep to tie 13-13 with Belgium and book their 10th straight Rugby World Cup appearance at Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027.
It was a bitter disappointment for Belgium who miss out on a place in Australia 2027 on try bonus points after remaining undefeated in the tournament thanks to victories against Namibia and Brazil.
In the earlier match Namibia fought back from 17-0 down to defeat Brazil 40-31 in a high scoring and very entertaining affair to finish third overall.
Happy’s International Team of the Year
1 Ox Niche
2 Juan Montoya
3 Wilco Louw
4 Nick Frost
5 Eben Etzebeth
6 Peter Steph du Toit
7 Tom Curry
8 Ardie Savea
9 Jamison-Gibson-Park
10 Finn Russell
11 Louis Bielle- Biarrey
12 Joshua Tuisova
13 Len Ikitau Too good to miss out
14 Will Jordan
15 Blair Kinghorn or Thomas Ramos
Fun Fact
Much is made of discipline in the modern game and how it affects the outcome. Particularly considering our South African friends getting a couple of Reds two tests in a row. I ran the numbers for the northern tour and thus far the home teams have had Nine Yellows and Two Reds and the touring teams Thirteen Yellows and Two Reds.
Hoss Back Tomorrow
