Oscars Midol 2019: still more titles for the Boks
By Guillaume Mahot
The rugby 2019 world champions are still craving for trophies and titles. Last Monday in Paris, close to the Champs-Elysées, the 66th edition of the Oscars Midi-Olympique (a French ceremony aiming at rewarding best rugby players and best performances of the year) took place before 280 guests, and some of the Springboks received even more rewards for their incredible 2019 season. You could notably notice that stars like Conrad Smith, former All Blacks player, were present, but also former French international rugby players Thierry Dusautoir, Dimitri Szarzewski and Yannick Nyanga, or 1998 world champion of football Fabien Barthez.
In the midst of all those personalities, two Springboks were honored: Cheslin Kolbe and Boks captain Siya Kolisi, who were freshly coming back from their South African tour to celebrate the Webb Ellis trophy with their people. Kolbe, the player from French club Stade Toulousain, was awarded the Oscar of best player in the world for his 2019 season where he grabbed everything both in club and selection: he first won the French league (Top 14) and took the Brennus shield with Toulouse by beating ASM 24-18 in final, before grasping the Rugby Championship and the World Cup with the Springboks. Kolbe was also a decisive element in the Japanese competition a few weeks ago and scored a great try in final against England after having eliminated several players only relying on his speed and talent.
His captain Siya Kolisi was warmly applauded and congratulated by the whole crowd when he appeared on the stage to receive an honor Oscar for his personal season. Highlighting the importance of such a trophy, not only for the team as rugby professionals who wish to achieve top performances, but also for a whole nation yearning to find back peace and brotherhood, Kolisi also confessed he might be playing in France one day, maybe for…Stade Toulousain!
Africa Global News Publication
