As 2024 rolls to a finish we continue our year-end features – as we have been throughout December – with today’s offering hailing the Newbies of the Year.
In no particular order, here’s nine players who hit the big time this year.
Wallace Sititi (New Zealand)
It would be criminal to begin this feature without starting with the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year because he was simply that good. Sititi immediately looked classy for the Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific with his barnstorming carries and subtle ball-handling skills really standing out.
We thought for sure he would make the All Blacks squad but the 22-year-old went above and beyond that, quickly developing into New Zealand’s most impactful player even from his less preferred blindside role. The quality of his carries continued to show while his breakdown work and defence were superb. Perhaps his greatest attribute is his cool, calm head mature beyond its years, much like Ardie Savea’s when he burst onto the scene. Eventually named All Black of the Year and only expect more to come from the lad who is good enough to reach 100 caps.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (South Africa)
Also nominated for Breakthrough Player of the Year, the silky playmaker made his debut in 2024 coming off the bench against Wales and had a massive impact against Ireland before finally getting his first start against the Wallabies.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been highly-rated in South Africa for some time and is very clearly a generational talent with his calming aura, exceptional attacking prowess and cannon of a boot. He went from uncapped to running the Springboks side in just a few games and there was a chance he would have continued in the vein if not for injury.
The Stormer is supremely talented but needs to break a nasty streak of injuries which is always a cause for concern for such a young player. Still, expect his name to be on your screens for some time to come.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (England)
Continuing with the nominees for the Breakthrough players is the electric Englishman who actually had the choice between the Red Rose and Wales, picking the former so he could continue his medical studies in Exeter.
Feyi-Waboso has all the ingredients to be a world beater with his remarkable pace, aerial prowess and deceptive strength powering his game. He had an outstanding year in England white and when he skirted over to score against the All Blacks in New Zealand it was clear there is a serious player on our hands.
Very quickly the Exeter man became one of the first names of Steve Borthwick’s teamsheet and should his form continue there is still plenty to come from this man.
Chandler Cunningham-South (England)
Replacing the raw physicality of the legendary Courtney Lawes at blindside had proved to be difficult until Cunningham-South rolled through with his impressive engine and lust for cutting people in half with his massive tackles.
The England pack needed a man like the Harlequin to help impose the Red Rose on the game just a bit more and through his performance Cunningham-South turned into a valuable member of the side thanks to his 1.93m and 120 odd kg frame that could strike feature into any team!
To make him even more valuable as a prospect the back-row is just 21 years old and still has so much to learn and grow in the Test arena. It certainly makes one shudder in their boots and it will be fascinating to see how far he gets in pursuit of Lawes’ throne.