Nick Mallett resigned from the World Rugby’s awards panel after former Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber was snubbed for last year’s Coach of the Year award.
Despite coaching the Springboks to a historic World Cup title defence, Nienaber was overlooked as 2023 Coach of the Year.
Andy Farrell took the award, even though Ireland were knocked out in the World Cup quarter-finals.
According to a report by Sunday newspaper Rapport, Mallett, who served on World Rugby’s Coach of the Year panel since 2015, strongly believed that the award should go to the coach of the World Cup-winning team.
The former Bok coach reportedly made his displeasure about Nienaber’s snub known by resigning from his position on the panel.
Mallett was also left frustrated by the 2015 award, which went to the Wallabies’ Michael Cheika ahead of Steve Hansen, who coached the All Blacks to a World Cup title defence.
Former Springbok captain John Smit has also stepped down from his position on the Player of the Year panel. According to the report, Smit was not happy with the nominations for last year’s award, when Eben Etzebeth was the only Springbok nominated.
The 2023 award went to All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea.
Three Springboks are up for the 2024 award – Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Cheslin Kolbe – which will be announced on Sunday night.
Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
