Three Exeter Chiefs Nominated for World Rugby Honours
Exeter Chiefs are proud to have had three players nominated in three different categories of the World Rugby Awards 2024.
Leading the trio of nominees is Alex Tessier who is named amongst the four players vying for the Women’s 15s Player of the Year.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is nominated for the Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year while Maddie Feaunati is nominated for the Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year.
Each category boasts four outstanding nominees with the winners announced during the World Rugby Awards ceremony which is due to take place in Monaco on November 24.
World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said, “On behalf of World Rugby, I would like to warmly congratulate all nominees selected today and thank them for their contribution to the advancement of our sport.
“In a calendar year that saw fantastic 15s tournaments and sevens competitions including a groundbreaking Olympics Games in Paris, they have shone brightly and inspired fans worldwide, showcasing the best of our sport and its values.
“We look forward to uniting our global family in Monaco for the fourth time under the High Patronage of H.S.H Princess Charlene of Monaco and presenting a wider cast of winners with the ultimate accolades in rugby – the World Rugby Awards.”
Her teammate Tessier has long been known for the class she brings to the midfield. A basketball convert, the 50-plus cap Canadian international has a storied career in the women’s game with two Women’s Rugby World Cup campaigns under her belt and, most recently, selection to the 2023/24 PWR Team of the Year.
Feyi-Waboso – who won the 2023/24 Premiership Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Season award – has enjoyed a stellar rise to international recognition in the past year. Having become a mainstay of the Exeter Chiefs team, the young winger was handed his England debut during the 2024 Six Nations and has firmly written his name on test rugby since.
On a meteoric rise of her own in the women’s game, Feaunati stormed her way into Susie Appleby’s Chiefs team last season and has no signs of slowing down her progress any time soon. A Red Roses debut in March of this year further cemented her place as a promising young star to track.
“Tess had an excellent WXV tournament, really lighting up that Canada back line with a run and kick game that showed what a world-class player she is,” Chiefs Women’s Head Coach Susie Appleby said. “She thoroughly deserves to be amongst the nominees.
“Maddie has almost appeared from nowhere, coming across from the other side of the world in New Zealand. She’s a really powerful athlete who has been making a real impression on world rugby at a very young age. We’re really excited to see where she can go from here.
“We’re incredibly proud of both girls being nominated for these awards.”
“I think this nomination really highlights what an incredible 18 months Manny has had,” Director of Rugby Rob Baxter said. “Fair play to him, he’s worked incredibly hard to become part of our first team where he’s taken some great opportunities and scored some fantastic tries, looking like a promising talent since he’s broken into the team.
“He’s then taken his international opportunities incredibly well. As people say, he is someone who has some very special abilities and I think being the youngest guy on the list shows how incredibly quickly he’s come to prominence in the professional game.
“As we’ve said before, it’s incredible to think what level he could get to. There are still some very important milestones for him ahead and hopefully that will include playing some big and important games for us as well as England. Then there’s the British and Irish Lions tour happening shortly.
“Looking down the line, I’m sure he’ll want to be someone winning trophies internationally as well as domestically.”