World Rugby announce Breakthrough Player of the Year nominees

World Rugby have named the three nominees for the breakthrough player of the year award, with the winner set to be announced this Sunday.

The nominees for this prestigious award, now in its fifth year, are Joe Cokanasiga (England), Herschel Jantjies (South Africa) and Romain Ntamack (France).

The previous winners of the award are New Zealand’s RWC 2015 winner Nehe Milner-Skudder, England forward Maro Itoje, All Blacks winger Rieko Ioane and South Africa winger Aphiwe Dyantyi.

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To be eligible for this award, players must have played less than one year of senior international rugby, with former internationals Jamie Heaslip, Felipe Contepomi and Rugby World Cup winners Fiao’o Faamausili and Bryan Habana on the panel that selects the shortlist.

The eligibility criteria means that the likes of English youngsters Tom Curry and Sam Underhill, who have been two of the stars of England's World Cup campaign but made their international debuts in 2017, weren't available to be included in the shortlist.

The winner will be revealed at the World Rugby Awards, which take place at The Prince Park Tower in Tokyo, Japan, on 3 November.

JOE COKANASIGA (ENGLAND)

The winger announced himself on the international stage with a try on debut against Japan at Twickenham last November and hasn’t looked back with a record of seven tries in his nine tests in the England jersey. He may only have featured once at Rugby World Cup 2019 to date, but the 21-year-old, blessed with both power and pace, ensured he left his mark on the match with a brace of tries against USA in Kobe City.

HERSCHEL JANTJIES (SOUTH AFRICA)

Few people knew anything about the diminutive scrum-half outside of the Stormers camp coming into 2019, but he announced himself to the world in some style, scoring twice on his test debut against Australia in the Rugby Championship in July and then touching down again in the 16-16 draw with New Zealand. The 23-year-old has featured in all but one of South Africa’s tests since, more often than not providing an impact off the bench.

ROMAIN NTAMACK (FRANCE)

A World Rugby U20 Championship winner in 2018, Romain Ntamack is calmness personified on a rugby pitch despite being just 20 and the youngest member of France’s RWC 2019 squad. He made his debut at centre in the Six Nations opener against Wales in February but has now made the fly-half berth his own, starting eight of his 12 tests there, including three in Japan. The son of RWC 1999 runner-up Émile, he has clearly inherited his father’s vision, flair and desire to attack the line.

World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: "The World Rugby breakthrough player of the year award recognises the most exciting talent to burst onto the international 15s or sevens stage during the year and highlights the ‘ones to watch’.

"There were several outstanding candidates and the process of selecting the shortlist was tough for the panel. We have three outstanding candidates, who would be worthy recipients of this prestigious award."

"With a number of players bursting onto the international scene over the past year, it was no easy feat choosing only three nominees for the Breakthrough Player of the Year award but the nominees selected have shown their pedigree on the biggest stage and in so doing are fully deserving of their nomination."

This is one of 12 categories of awards, including the World Rugby men’s and women’s 15s players of the year, World Rugby team of the year, World Rugby men’s and women’s sevens players of the year and Award for Character.

- With World Rugby

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