Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has been placed at No 1 on a list of the 50 most influential people in rugby in 2020.

The list was compiled by Rugby World magazine, with SA Rugby magazine also contributing its nominations, to have Kolisi come out on top.

There were three other South Africans on the list, with Rassie Erasmus at No 6, SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux at 15 and new Bok coach Jacques Nienaber in at 43.

‘Siya Kolisi of South Africa – but now one of rugby’s universal soldiers – stands at No 1 in our most influential list, with Maro Itoje close behind at No 3,’ wrote Stephen Jones in the magazine.

‘Here we have two wonderful men, two men who have always transcended the sport itself, because not only are they both spectacularly good players but they know where the sport fits in the general landscape and are clever enough to be influencial away from the rectangle of play.

‘The intriguing probability now rises that they will meet as captains in the British & Irish Lions Test series next year and what an image that will provide.’

In at No 2 was French Rugby Federation chairman Bernard Lapote.

READ: ‘I am not scared to say when I am struggling’ – Kolisi

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