Here we go! The voting for Planet Rugby’s Readers’ Team of the Year is officially open.
As per usual, we have drawn up the shortlist for every position and allow you to make the final verdict.
In case you missed it, we’ve already opened the polls for the forwards, and now it’s time for the backs!
The World Rugby Dream Team selected by legends of the game only included the efforts of players at the international level, but this is your Team of the Year, so you can decide whether to weigh in club form or not.
So without further ado, here are the nominees and polls.
Scrum-half
We start with the cheekiest fellas on the pitch, the ruck goblins AKA the scrum-halves.
Antoine Dupont usually dominates this vote, but unfortunately, the Planet Rugby writers decided it would be unfair to nominate the truly world-class number nine since he barely played this year due to injury.
In his absence, Cam Roigard secured a place in the aforementioned World Rugby Dream XV with the All Blacks scrum-half continuing to boss the number nine jersey under Scott Robertson.
Cobus Reinach is the other CR9 nominated by our writers, with the Springboks veteran arguably in the form of his career in 2025.
Not convinced by either? Then perhaps British and Irish Lions nines Jamison Gibson-Park and Alex Mitchell can get your vote, with the duo impressing for the tourists, their countries and clubs.
We had a cut of five, which left us with a straight shootout between Ben Spencer and Maxime Lucu. The latter got the nod after winning the Six Nations and Investec Champions Cup with France and Bordeaux, respectively, and that’s not underselling Spencer’s incredible year with Bath.
Fly-half
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu remains unbeaten when starting a Test match for the Springboks and enjoyed a stunning 2025 in Green in Gold, beating the All Blacks, Argentina, Italy, France, Ireland, and Wales.
That earned him a place in the World Rugby Dream XV, but if you are looking for another fly-half to fill the number 10 jumper, we have nominated Romain Ntamack, George Ford, Tomas Albornoz and Finn Russell.
Have your say:
Wings
Instead of picking between left and right wingers, we give you the pick of the lot.
We’ve nominated 10 speedsters in total and allowed you to select two from the long list.
Cheslin Kolbe and Louis Bielle-Biarrey both made World Rugby’s Dream XV, with the latter nominated for the Player of the Year award too.
Six Springboks selected in Mike Tindall and Bismarck du Plessis’s 2025 World XV
We’ve also included Breakthrough Player of the Year nominee Ethan Hooker, as well as British and Irish Lions Tommy Freeman and James Lowe.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso endured an injury-hit year, but features among our nominees, as does Wallabies sensation Max Jorgensen.
Canan Moodie jumped between wing and centre for the Springboks but vies for a spot in your Team of the Year, out wide as does Pumas star Mateo Carreras.
The shortlist wouldn’t be complete without Frenchman Damian Penaud.
Centres
We haven’t limited you to inside or outside centre either.
While the Wallabies were hit and miss in 2025, Len Ikitau was a consistent and frankly outstanding performer for Joe Schmidt’s charges.
If you don’t agree with World Rugby’s Dream XV, we’ve got you covered with further options in the form of Springboks ace Damian de Allende, Scotland’s Sione Tuipulotu, All Blacks star Jordie Barrett and Los Pumas rock Santiago Chocobares.
Huw Jones cracked the nod alongside Ikitau, but the other centres we’ve shortlisted are Jesse Kriel, Joseph Suaalii, Garry Ringrose and Ollie Lawrence.
Full-back
Last but not least, it’s the full-backs.
There was no shortage of options, but we managed to cut the list down to five superstars.
Firstly, France’s mad man, Thomas Ramos, who has to be one of the most accurate placekickers in the game.
Damian Willemse was superb for the Springboks, as was Will Jordan for the All Blacks, while Santiago Carreras was elite off the bench for Argentina.
Finally, our shortlist is completed by the brilliant Toulouse and Italy outside back Ange Capuozzo.
Don’t forget to cast your vote for the forwards with the results to be published before the end of the year.
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