Ultimate Rugby Readers' Team of The Year

Ultimate Rugby Readers' Team of The Year

You have had your say and here it is, your team of the year.

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 

The votes are in and here it is the @ultimaterugby’s team of the Year as voted for by you πŸ‘

A post shared by Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) on



15. Beauden Barrett - New Zealand (51%)


Barrett moved to fullback for the All Blacks this year and has seemingly impressed you all as he grabbed 51% of the votes with Liams Williams being his closest contender racking up 37% of the votes.

14. Cheslin Kolbe - South Africa (84%)


Kolbe snaps the right-wing slot taking 84% of the votes. One way traffic for the World Cup winning winger who also helped Toulouse win the TOP14 title this year.

 
 
Kotaro Matsushima got just 9% of the votes, coming in second place, while Sevu Reece got just 4% despite starring for the Crusaders and All Blacks.
 

13. Semi Radradra - Fiji (56%)

Jonathan Davies came in second place with 20% of the votes with Lukhanyo coming second with 15% but in the end, the superstar Fijian stole the show enough at the World Cup and with Bordeaux to secure his place in the side.



12. Damian de Allende - South Africa (39%)

One of the most contested positions with de Allende shading England's Manu Tuilagi by just three per cent.

Both player's had good seasons with their clubs and reached the World Cup Final for their respective nations.

However, what may have given de Allende the edge was that he played some of the best rugby of his career in Japan as South Africa went on to win the World Cup.

11. Josh Adams - Wales (35%)

Another close call with Adams beating South Africa's Makazole Mapimpi by 6% with Kenki Fukuoka racking up 23% of the votes and Marika Koroibete getting 13% of the votes.

Adams was the top scorer at the World Cup, broke Wales' record for tries scored at World Cups and was the top try scorer in the Six Nations.

 



10. Handre Pollard - South Africa (48%)

Handre Pollard guided the Springboks to World Cup glory beating England in the Final and again the Springbok gets the edge over Owen Farrell as he beats the European and Premiership Champion to place in the side.

Farrell was Pollard's closest competitor in the voting accumulating 32% of the votes with Dan Biggar and Richie Mo'unga someway off of the pair.

9. Faf de Klerk - South Africa (77%) 

 
 
Yet another vote that went one with Faf de Klerk took 77% of the votes with Antoine Dupont someway back on 9%.
 
 
De Klerk is another World Cup Winning Springbok while he helped Sale secure Champions Cup status for the 2019/20 season.
 
 
 
1. Tendai Mtawarira - South Africa (67%)
 
The Beast dominated the voting for loosehead much like he did in the World Cup final against England as he brought his test career to a close.
 
 
The Springbok was on top form throughout the year, reclaiming his starting jersey and peaked at the right time to win the World Cup with Boks.
 
 
2. Shota Horie - Japan (34%)
 
 
Jamie George and Bongi Mbonambi racked up 26% and 27% of the votes making this one of the most closest calls in team.
 
 
 
 
Horie's 34% of the votes for his position is the lowest total accumulated to claim position with Japanese star just beating the two finalists.
 
 
Horie was outstanding in the World Cup and is the only Japanese player and one of two Tier Two players to feature in the side.
 
 
3. Kyle Sinckler - England (68%)
 
 
Another vote that swung one way with South Africa's Frans Malherbe gaining 22% of the votes.
 
 
Sinckler was sensational for England throughout the year and was a standout for Harlequins too.
 
 
He continues to set the standards for the modern day prop and his injury in the World Cup Final was a major blow for England.
 
 
 
4. Eben Etzebeth - South Africa (54%)
 
 
James Ryan got 24% of the votes as the World Cup winner claimed the 4 jersey. The All Blacks' Scott Barrett got 9% of the votes, one per cent more than Courtney Lawes.
 
 
The powerful second-rower was a regular starter for the Springboks in a successful year for South Africa where they won the Rugby Championship and World Cup.
 
 
 
 
 
5. Alun-Wyn Jones - Wales (50%)
 
 
Six Nations Player of the Tournament, lead Wales to the Grand Slam and starred in the World Cup, Alun-Wyn Jones was superb this year and fits the cliche of a fine wine.
 
 
He beat Maro Itoje, Sam Whitelock and Lood de Jager to place in the side with Itoje coming closest with 28% of the votes.
 
 
 
 
6. Pieter-Steph du Toit - South Africa (65%)
 
The World Cup winner and World Player of the Year dominated the voting for the Blindside Flanker of the year with Tom Curry his coming in second place with 26% of the votes.
 
 
 
 
7. Ardie Savea - New Zealand (56%)
 
 
Sam Underhill was Savea's closest competitor getting 28% of the votes but the All Blacks' performances in the World Cup and for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby sees him claim the #7 jersey.
 
 


 
 
8. Duane Vermeulen - South Africa (57%)
 
 

Again a World Cup winner completes the side after Duane Vermeulen helped the Springboks win the Rugby Championship and World Cup double.

He was also brilliant for the Bulls in Super Rugby and managed to beat Billy Vunipola (18%), Kieran Read (17%) and Kazuki Himeno (8) to the final spot in the side.



In this Article

Latest News