RUCK's 2024 Men's Team of the Year

01/02/2025 05:59 AM

Happy New Year! There is plenty to get excited about as the rugby calendar ticks over into 2025, with the annual Guinness Men’s Six Nations kicking off at the end of the month. There British & Irish Lions also head down to Australia this Summer, in what is shaping up to be an unforgettable tour.

So, with 2024 freshly in the rear-view mirror, the RUCK writing staff were challenged to piece together a men’s Team of the Year. After much deliberation, the results are in. Here is the starting XV for RUCK’s 2024 Men’s Team of the Year.

15. Fullback: Will Jordan (New Zealand and Crusaders) – 46%

George Furbank (England and Northampton Saints) – 20%

Thomas Ramos (France and Stade Toulousain) – 8%

Tom Wright (Australia and Brumbies) – 8%

Juan Cruz Mallia (Argentina and Stade Toulousain) – 4%

Blair Kinghorn (Scotland and Stade Toulousain) – 4%

Hugo Keenan (Ireland and Leinster) – 3%

Freddie Steward (England and Leicester Tigers) – 3%

14. Right Wing: Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa and Tokyo Sungoliath) – 60%

Mark Tele’a (New Zealand and Blues) – 21%

Rio Dyer (Wales and Dragons) – 13%

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (England and Exeter Chiefs) – 4%

13. Outside Centre: Reiko Ioane (New Zealand and Blues) – 54%

Len Ikitau (Australia and Brumbies) – 30%

Garry Ringrose (Ireland and Leinster) – 13%

Jesse Kriel (South Africa and Yokohama Canon Eagles) – 4%

12. Inside Centre: Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland and Glasgow Warriors) – 53%

Bundee Aki (Ireland and Connacht) – 24%

Jordie Barrett (New Zealand and Leinster) – 19%

Santiago Chocobares (Argentina and Stade Toulousain) – 4%

11. Left Wing: Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France and Bodeaux-Begles) – 68%

Makazole Mapimpi (South Africa and Sharks) – 20%

James Lowe (Ireland and Leinster) – 4%

Tommy Freeman (England and Northampton Saints) – 4%

Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland and Edinburgh) – 4%

10. Fly Half: Finn Russell (Scotland and Bath Rugby) – 63%

Marcus Smith (England and Harlequins) – 31%

Damien McKenzie (New Zealand and Chiefs) – 6%

9. Scrum Half: Antoine Dupont (France and Stade Toulousain) – 89%

Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland and Leinster) – 11%

1. Loose-head Prop: Ox Nche (South Africa and Sharks) – 92%

Andrew Porter (Ireland and Leinster) – 8%

2. Hooker: Dan Sheehan (Ireland and Leinster) – 33%

Jamie George (England and Saracens) – 29%

Bongi Mbonambi (South Africa and Sharks) – 25%

Dewi Lake (Wales and Ospreys) – 13%

3. Tight-head Prop: Tadhg Furlong (Ireland and Leinster) – 74%

Tyrel Lomax (New Zealand and Hurricanes) – 15%

Zander Fagerson (Scotland and Glasgow Warriors) – 7%

Finlay Bealham (Ireland and Connacht) – 4%

4. Lock 4: Eben Etzebeth (South Africa and Sharks) – 66%

Thibaud Flament (France and Stade Toulousain) – 19%

Maro Itoje (England and Saracens) – 11%

Will Rowlands (Wales and Racing 92) – 4%

5. Lock 5: Tadhg Beirne (Ireland and Munster) – 77%

RG Snyman (South Africa and Leinster) – 11%

Will Skelton (Australia and Stade Rochelais) – 4%

Dafydd Jenkins (Wales and Exeter Chiefs) – 4%

Tupou Vaa’i (New Zealand and Chiefs) – 4%

6. Blindside Flanker: Wallace Sititi (New Zealand and Chiefs) – 41%

Siya Kolisi (South Africa and Sharks) – 38%

Chandler Cunningham-South (England and Harlequins) – 10%

Sam Underhill (England and Bath Rugby) – 7%

Juan Martin Gonzalez Samso (Argentina and Saracens) – 4%

7. Openside Flanker: Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa & Toyota Verblitz) – 59%

Josh van der Flier (Ireland and Leinster) – 16%

Jack Willis (England and Stade Toulousain) – 16%

Jac Morgan (Wales and Ospreys) – 6%

Kwagga Smith (South Africa and Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 3%

8. Number Eight: Ardie Savea (New Zealand and Moana Pasifika) – 43%

Caelan Doris (Ireland and Leinster) – 39%

Ben Earl (England and Saracens) – 10%

Harry Wilson (Australia and Queensland Reds) – 4%

Aaron Wainwright (Wales and Dragons RFC) – 4%

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