As the year winds to a close, we take a look back at 2024 to pick out our winners and losers.

It was a historic year across the rugby world with records being broken across the board with famous upsets and new clubs winners in several competitions.

Without further ado, here are our winners and losers.

Winners

Springboks

There is no better place to start than the defending Rugby World Cup winners. After lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in 2019, the Springboks spent a year in the international wilderness only playing their first home game in front of fans in 2022!

2024 was much more of a celebration of rugby in the republic as they got to see their champions in action and Rassie Erasmus’ charges did not disappoint. They would draw the two-Test series with Ireland but bounced back to clinch a first Rugby Championship title since 2019 and claimed back-to-back wins over Australia and New Zealand, the latter in front of stacked home stadiums.

South Africa would go on to win 11 of their 13 Test matches this year ending 2024 as they began it, as the top-ranked team in the world. It was not just the results that impressed onlookers as the Boks showed signs of evolving with Tony Brown sprinkling a new dimension to their attack with fellow new backroom staff recruit Jerry Flannery retaining the ferocity on defence.

Realising the need to not only adapt their game plan as the game continues to move forward, Erasmus breathed new life into the squad using a mind-boggling 50 players including 12 debutants in 2024.

The records and trophies piled up for the Boks who reclaimed the Freedom Cup from the All Blacks, beating them for a record fourth time in succession, while they also went unbeaten in November for the first time since 2013.

The Boks’ sterling year was also recognised at the World Rugby Awards evening with Pieter-Steph du Toit beating teammates Eben Etzebeth and Cheslin Kolbe to the Player of the Year Award with several Boks making the Dream Team of the Year.

Red Roses

They just can not be stopped. It was more of the same for the Red Roses in 2024 as they went the entire year without tasting defeat.

John Mitchell’s charges were seriously impressive throughout the year as they raced to another Six Nations Grand Slam, conceding just 41 points across their five games – 21 of which came in the last clash against France.

Even New Zealand could not upset the England women’s team as the year progressed as the Red Roses would also go on to defend their WXV 1 title.

Ellie Kildunne was central to their efforts this year and she was rightly crowned World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year with five other England players cracking the Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year.

The Red Roses’ recent record continues to amaze as they have won 50 of their last 51 Test matches.

Zimbabwe

Mitchell’s team were not the only ones to go unbeaten in 2024 as South Africa’s neighbours Zimbabwe, bettered the Springboks’ win rate this year.

The Sables stunningly clinched their first Rugby Africa Cup in 12 years, dethroning 10-year reigning champions Namibia in the semi-finals before beating Algeria in the showpiece.

South Africa and Namibia have dominated African rugby over the years but we certainly hope that 2024 is a sign that Zimbabwe are launching a bid to qualify for the next World Cup having last featured in the tournament back in 1991.

After a stunning year, Zimbabwe moved from number 31 in the world rankings to 27 just one place behind Namibia.

Toulouse

What a year it was for the French giants who delivered their sixth Investec Champions Cup title and won their 23rd Top 14 championship.

It’s one thing having some of the best players in the world and another delivering on the results that the squad demands and in 2024, Ugo Mola’s men certainly rose to the challenge.

It may well be early days in the 2024/25 season but the French champions certainly look well placed to defend both their titles in the new year.

Northampton Saints

2024 was one final hurrah for some of the great servants of Northampton Saints and Premiership Rugby with the likes of Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam and the Waller brothers – Alex and Ethan – all leaving the side at the end of the season and boy did the squad give them the perfect send-off.

Saints topped the table at the end of the regular season and would go on to not only reach their first final in 10 years but win the Premiership for the first time in a decade.

Northampton have endured a more challenging close to the year but they certainly have the quality and depth to turn things around.

Glasgow Warriors

Only the most optimistic punters would have given Glasgow Warriors a chance of winning silverware in 2024 and they would have been rather smitten as Franco Smith’s side charged to a maiden URC title.

 

The Warriors were unapologetic in their approach, scoring tries from rolling mauls after rolling mauls but also mixed it up with wonderful backline play – a trademark of Smith’s teams.

Sione Tuipulotu not only thrived with his club but country too as he led Scotland for the first time and has enjoyed the kind of form that almost guarantees him a place on the Lions’ plane to Australia next year.

Antoine Dupont

Antoine Dupont added four more team titles to his tally this year winning two with the France Sevens team – the World Rugby Sevens and Olympic Games gold – and won both the Top 14 and Champions Cup titles.

The brilliant scrum-half capped off the year with the World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year award. Simply sensational.

The Blues

The drought finally came to an end as the Blues won their first full Super Rugby title in 21 years. Yes, the Aucklanders did win Super Rugby Trans-Tasman in 2021 but this one was far more special.

They finished the round-robin stages on top of the table before going on to beat the Chiefs in the final. It’s been a long wait for the Blues’ faithful but richly deserved.

Wallace Sititi

While he was on the losing side in the Super Rugby final, it was still an epic year for back-rower Wallace Sititi.

There were concerns over how Scott Robertson would fill Shannon Frizell’s void in the All Blacks’ pack and none would have predicted that Sititi would be the man to do it.

The 22-year-old made his presence known during the Super Rugby season but was still a surprise call-up to the All Blacks squad but by the end of the year, there was no doubting his quality, so much so that he was crowned the All Blacks player of the year.

Joe Schmidt

The Wallabies year started with a bang and endured a bit of a whimper but by the end of 2024, Joe Schmidt can certainly hold his head high. Australian rugby was in a sad state after exiting the Rugby World Cup at the pool stages for the first time ever and with the demise of the Melbourne Rebels, there was certainly plenty to feel bleak about.

However, Schmidt’s appointment as Eddie Jones’ successor provided a glimmer of hope and the trajectory was certainly trending upward after a series win over Wales in July.

The Wallabies endured more ups and downs during the Rugby Championship but they finished the competition with strong performances albeit in defeat to the All Blacks but it really was in November where the Schmidt effect really shone through as the Wallabies beat Wales again, upset England and pushed Ireland all the way with the only blip coming against Scotland who outplayed them.

Australia really needed signs of improvement at the very least in 2024 and Schmidt more than delivered.

Ian Foster

Ian Foster can certainly feel vindicated after his successor endured a challenging first year in charge. The All Blacks were certainly underwhelming under Robertson in 2024 falling, to back-to-back defeats to the Springboks in South Africa, losing to Argentina in New Zealand and failing to beat France too.

Foster has repeatedly bemoaned how he was treated during his time as All Blacks boss and this year showed that perhaps there was merit to his concerns.

British and Irish Lions

As much as Australia needed improvement from the Wallabies, so did the British and Irish Lions. The tour always brings its own hype but the prospect of a series whitewash looked increasingly likely earlier in the year but now less so.

Losers

Leinster

Another trophyless year for the Irish juggernaut who unlike Toulouse, failed to live up to their star-studded billing.

For a third year in a row, Leo Cullen’s men fell at the final Investec Champions Cup hurdle and for a second successive season were knocked out in the United Rugby Championship semi-finals.

In response, they completed key acquisitions on and off the pitch with Jordie Barrett and RG Snyman joining their cause as well as World Cup-winning coach Jacques Nienaber – who joined during last season – as they look to finally end their trophy drought. They are well-placed to end their wait for silverware but were in a similar position 12 months ago and failed.

English rugby

While the Red Roses flew the English rugby flag high in 2024, they were the exception to the rule as the bigwigs and men’s senior team struggled throughout the year.

The credit that Steve Borthwick accrued in 2023  leading the team to the World Cup semi-finals is starting to deplete – and rapidly – as they won just three of their five Six Nations matches finishing third overall. That was followed by back-to-back defeats to the All Blacks in Aotearoa and three straight home losses to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

Then there is the case of the bigwigs with RFU chairman Tom Ilube stepping down from his position after widespread criticism from all corners of the game over the payment of executives. This after Bill Sweeney was paid a whopping £1.1m which included a £358,00 bonus despite the RFU making 40 positions redundant this year.

Wales

The best part about Wales’ 2024 in rugby is that it is over. Brutal but true. While there were certainly some silver linings in a dark, dark cloud of Welsh rugby it was a forgettable year for the regions and men’s international team.

Warren Gatland’s sole win of the year came in a midweek game against the Queensland Reds as Wales lost every single Test match they were involved in this year and are now on a record losing streak.

Nigel Walker has since left his role as the executive director of rugby, resigning shortly before the festive season and at a time when the Wales women’s team prepared to file a grievance complaint against him.

All is not well with Welsh rugby and we really hope they feature in the positive section of this feature next year.

Crusaders

Life after Scott Robertson was brutal for the Crusaders fans as the team went from winning seven consecutive titles to failing to reach the playoffs.

What made matters worse was the conduct of new head coach Rob Penney who lashed out at a journalist in the latter stages of the season and to many of the fans’ dismay, he has been kept on for 2025.

Hoskins Sotutu

2024 promised so much for Blues star Hoskins Sotutu, who had the opportunity to force his way back into the All Blacks squad with a new head coach in charge.

After guiding the Blues to the Super Rugby Pacific title and breaking the tournament’s record for tries scored by a forward, he would have felt that he had done enough, but in Robertson’s eyes that was not the case.

He would be snubbed for the July internationals and the Rugby Championship before his opportunity arose for the November tour. However, an injury crushed those dreams. He has now been linked with a move to the Premiership as he will requalify to represent England next year.

Eddie Jones

After a disastrous 2023 with the Wallabies, Eddie Jones returned to lead Japan after repeatedly denying that he held talks to retake the reins as the Brave Blossoms’ head coach.

However, it has been far from plain sailing upon his return to Japan as the side struggled for results in 2024 and his position is now under threat. This is according to reports in Japan that stated that the JRFU were not satisfied with the team’s performances in 2024.

Kensuke Iwabuchi confirmed as much stating: “There were some harsh opinions, but the board decided to support him and decided to keep him in his position.”

Exeter Chiefs

Exeter’s fall has been just as impressive as their rise as Rob Baxter’s team have gone from winning the double in 2020 to facing the prospect of a relegation playoff in 2025.

At the time of writing, the Chiefs have not won a single match during the 2024/25 season with long-time owner Tony Rowe now putting the club up for sale.

France

Hopes that France would bounce back from their World Cup disappointment with a Six Nations title were dealt a hammer blow when Les Bleus fell to a defeat in their opening game of the year.

Fabien Galthie’s side did recover to finish second overall but were far from convincing throughout the tournament. However, it was on tour where matters turned sour for Les Bleus with two players arrested in Argentina.

Les Bleus have also got major stick for not selecting their best players during July, which is real shame with a three-Test series against the All Blacks next year, particularly when one considers the epic clash at the Stade Francais in November.

World Sevens Series

Or should we say the ‘World SVNS Series’ while it was grand to see rugby at the Olympics, sevens rugby does not look in rude health at all. This after the restructured tournament failed to impress with the finals weekend making the previous stops almost pointless.

The release of the 2024/25 schedule showed just how far the game is slipping with no stops in Europe and New Zealand also missing out. The signs are not positive for the health of sevens rugby.

Damian Willemse

After becoming the youngest player to win two Rugby World Cups, 2024 promised to be a huge year for Springboks star Damian Willemse but untimely injuries denied him of that.

After usurping Willie le Roux as the starting fullback last year, he had the opportunity to make the jersey his own and kick on with the Stormers too. Alas, it was not to be as he played just five times for the Stormers in the URC and failed to make an appearance for the Springboks after back-to-back long-term injuries.

Losing finalists

It was close but no cigar for the likes of the Chiefs, Bordeaux, Bath and the Bulls who fell agonisingly close to getting their hands on some silverware in 2024 losing the Super Rugby, Top 14, Premiership and URC finals this year.

Wins on the last day of their respective competitions would have ended long waits for the aforementioned quartet but in the end they were left with their heads in their hands and looking to rebound in 2025.