Pieter Steph du Toit has been crowned the best player in the world by respected French publication Midi Olympique.<\/p>\n
This comes after the Springboks star was named the 2024 World Rugby Player of the Year, winning the award for a second time after doing so five years prior.<\/p>\n
The 33-year-old clinches the award voted for by Midi Olympique readers and ends Antoine Dupont\u2019s four-year reign over the gong.<\/p>\n
Pieter-Steph du Toit ends Antoine Dupont\u2019s four-year run<\/p>\n
The France captain won the vote from 2021 to 2024, but his injury during the Six Nations has seen his stronghold on the award slip.<\/p>\n
Du Toit<\/a> becomes the fourth South African<\/a> to win Midi Olympique\u2019s \u2018Oscar Monde\u2019, following in the footsteps of Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield, who jointly claimed the gong in 2009.<\/p>\n In 2019, it was Cheslin Kolbe who claimed the honour, with Owen Farrell winning it a year later before Dupont\u2019s<\/a> dominance.<\/p>\n Former winners include Dan Carter (twice), Thierry Dusautoir, Richie McCaw, Leigh Halfpenny, Juan Mart\u00edn Fern\u00e1ndez Lobbe, Ma\u2019a Nonu, Maro Itoje and Conor Murray.<\/p>\n France u20s hooker Lyam Akrab was another winner on the night as the Montpellier front rower was named the Oscar Espoir, best young player, of the year. This comes after he claimed the U20 Six Nations Player of the Tournament earlier this year.<\/p>\n Springboks: Rassie Erasmus\u2019 five biggest selection headaches for France grudge match<\/a><\/p>\n Bordeaux and France star winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey was unveiled as the Oscar Europe Midi Olympique after helping his club win the Investec Champions Cup, scoring six tries in five appearances.<\/p>\n Joanna Grisez picked up the women\u2019s Oscar award for her efforts with the French Women\u2019s team this year, while Thomas Ramos took home the award for the best men\u2019s French player, beating Francois Cros and Maxime Lucu to the honour.<\/p>\n Ramos lost out on the award in 2023 and 2024 to Dupont, finishing in second place on both occasions, but it\u2019s third time lucky for the sharpshooter who helped France win the Six Nations and Toulouse the Top 14 title.<\/p>\n