The World Cup-winning Springboks have been nominated in the Team of the Year category at this year’s Laureus World Sports Awards.

The Boks, who also won the 2019 Rugby Championship, have been nominated alongside Uefa Champions League-winners Liverpool FC, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team, Fifa Women’s World Cup-winners the USA, NBA champions the Toronto Raptors and Spain’s men’s basketball team, who won the 2019 Fiba Basketball World Cup.

The Boks previously won the prestigious accolade in 2008, following their World Cup triumph in France the year before.

Laureus Academy chairperson and All Blacks great Sean Fitzpatrick congratulated the Springboks for the passion, commitment and determination they showed, adding that the three-time Rugby World Champions are truly deserving of the nomination.

‘If I wanted to identify a figure that symbolises the unity that sport has brought about in 2019, Siya Kolisi comes straight to mind,’ said the former All Blacks captain.

‘I greatly admire the way Kolisi led his team and how he has transcended his leadership role within rugby to become a leader and a role model for his entire country.’

The winner of the award will be announced at a ceremony to be held in Berlin next month.

Photo:  Juan Jose Gasparini/Gallo Images