Francois Hougaard’s spectacular score in South Africa’s win over New Zealand in the Rugby Championship has been named as the International Rugby Players’ Association (IRPA) Try of the Year 2014.
The Springbok scrum-half, who scored the first try of the match in Johannesburg in early October, is the third South African to win the award after Jaque Fourie in 2009 and Bryan Habana in 2012.
Samoa’s Seilala Mapusua, former All Black Jeff Wilson, Ireland’s Alan Quinlan and Dan Parks of Scotland formed the panel of judges who opted for Hougaard’s effort in preference to the four others shortlisted in Jamie Roberts (Wales), team-mate Cornal Hendricks, Magali Harvey (Canada) and Jonny May (England).
Hougaard brought the Ellis Park crowd to its feet when, in the 12th minute, he dived under the posts to finish off a move that had begun deep in South Africa’s half and involved all of the backline. South Africa won the match 27-25.
Previous winners:
2013 – Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
2012 – Bryan Habana (South Africa)
2011 – Radike Samo (Australia)
2010 – Chris Ashton (England)
2009 – Jaque Fourie (South Africa)
2008 – Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)
