Awesome Ox makes history in the World Rugby Player of the Year award, which was introduced in 2001.

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Springbok powerhouse Ox Nche has become the first prop to be nominated for the World Rugby Player of the Year award, which was introduced in 2001.

Nche is one of four nominees announced for the 2025 award on Tuesday, joining Bok teammates Pieter-Steph du Toit and Malcolm Marx, as well as France wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey. It is the second nomination for Marx, who made the shortlist in 2018.

Hookers have featured before, with Ireland and British & Irish Lions icon Keith Wood winning the inaugural award in 2001. Steve Thompson (England, 2003), Dane Coles (New Zealand, 2016) and Joe Taufete’e (USA, 2019) were also shortlisted in their respective seasons.

But until now, no prop had cracked the nomination list.

Nche has earned global respect for his immense scrummaging power and all-round impact, and will be hoping to go one better and lift the award on behalf of the many prop greats who paved the way.

Those legends include two-time World Cup winners Os du Randt and Frans Malherbe, 2019 World Cup winner Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira, Wales icons Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones, All Blacks greats Tony Woodcock and Carl Hayman, England World Cup winner Jason Leonard, and Ireland stalwart Tadhg Furlong.

Four Springboks are on the shortlist in two flagship categories of the World Rugby Awards.

Pieter-Steph du Toit, Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche are in the running for the World Rugby Player of the Year men’s award along with France’s Louis Bielle-Biarrey.

Ethan Hooker has been included in the Breakthrough award shortlist alongside New Zealand’s Fabian Holland, England’s Henry Pollock and Australia’s Joseph Suaalii.

Du Toit last year became the first South African in history to win the Player of the Year Award twice, after also walking away with the title in 2019.

The winners will be confirmed on Saturday.

I’d like to congratulate Pieter-Steph, Malcolm, Ox and Ethan for being recognised among the best players in the world,” said SA Rugby president Mark Alexander.