Australian rugby sensation Joseph Suaalii has been nominated for the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award, showcasing his impressive rise in international rugby. At just 22 years old, Suaalii joins a competitive field that includes Fabian Holland from New Zealand, Ethan Hooker from South Africa, and Henry Pollock from England. This award seeks to recognize emerging talents who have significantly impacted the international stage in 2025.
In response to his nomination, Suaalii expressed gratitude to his teammates. “It’s pretty cool to get named … no award goes without a team, so it’s all credit to the team to be able to be nominated for an award,” he said. The young player, who previously starred for the Sydney Roosters, is currently playing as an outside centre and acknowledges that he is still adapting to the nuances of the 15-a-side game, which he played during his junior years.
Rising Star in Rugby
Despite being in his first year as a professional rugby player, Suaalii has shown remarkable growth. “I’m still growing in this game. It’s my first year playing the game of rugby professionally, so I’m just keeping chipping at it, just seeing where I can get better and improve,” he added. Suaalii made his debut for the Wallabies late last year, earning the player-of-the-match award in his inaugural Test against England at Twickenham.
Since then, he has been a key player for Australia, participating in all three matches against the British and Irish Lions this year, bringing his total Test appearances to 17. His swift adaptation to the demands of international rugby has garnered attention and respect from fans and pundits alike.
World Rugby Awards and Fan Participation
The World Rugby Awards will feature several categories for men this year, including player of the year, breakthrough player, and try of the year. Among the nominees for player of the year are three players from the world No.1-ranked Springboks: Pieter-Steph du Toit, Malcolm Marx, and Ox Nche. They will compete against French player Louis Bielle-Biarrey for the prestigious title.
Fans can participate in voting for the try of the year through World Rugby’s Instagram channel. The nominees for this category include exciting tries from players such as Santiago Cordero of Argentina, Santiago Pedrero of Chile, Lekima Tagitagivalu from Fiji, and Tupou Vaa’i from New Zealand.
The nominees for all categories were selected by the World Rugby Awards panel, which includes rugby legends such as former Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell. The winners will be announced during a ceremony on November 25, 2025, promising a celebration of talent and achievement in rugby.
