Rugby predictions for 2024: Players to watch – plus our Six Nations and Premiership winners
Do you agree with Daniel Schofield’s predictions? Let us know in the comments section below.
Men’s breakout star - Canan Moodie
He was my pick in this category for the World Cup and I am sticking with it. With gas to burn and a killer step, Moodie can slice through pretty much any defence and if you scrag him he can produce an offload out of nowhere. Injury prevented the outside centre from making his mark in France, but with the Springboks poised to undergo a significant revamp Moodie can take his rightful place as the next global superstar.
Women’s breakout star - Maisy Allen
England’s back row is stacked deeper than an Amazon warehouse in December, but keep your eye on Allen, a 21-year-old who has been making waves for Exeter Chiefs. In September, she immediately seized her international chance, scoring on her debut against Canada at Sandy Park before impressing on her first start the following week. Loughborough Lightning’s Daisy Hibbert-Jones is another back-rower who could come into the equation before the 2025 World Cup.
Men’s player of the year - Damian Penaud
Recency bias? What recency bias? Just because I watched the dazzling winger rip apart Bristol Bears in the Champions Cup in no way influences my selection. France, though, need a new rockstar in the absent of Antoine Dupont who has been granted a sevens sabbatical. Penaud bears a certain resemblance to Dupont (if you squint hard enough) and bears the same laissez-faire attitude to producing brilliance when you least expect it.
Women’s player of the year - Sarah Bern
The bias against props in awards voting in the men’s game sadly extends into the women’s game. Bern is England’s most valuable player. A prop capable of wreaking as much destruction in the loose as she does in the scrum. Arguably she has the greatest skillset in the game.
Most looking forward to in 2024...
The last hurrah of touring. The Nations Championship makes sense in a lot of ways, but rugby will feel like a poorer sport without the two or three-game summer series between north and south. If this is the last year of proper touring what a way to go out with South Africa v Ireland, Australia v Wales and New Zealand v England with the added aperitif of Eddie Jones’ first game in charge of Japan against his former employers.
Six Nations winner - France
For a third Championship in succession, the title is likely to be decided by the France v Ireland fixture, which falls on the opening weekend. Both teams have demons to slay from the World Cup and are likely to be missing a talisman in Antoine Dupont and Johnny Sexton respectively. France, however, looked better stocked at scrum half than Ireland at fly half and home support will be crucial. With a kindly fixture list, England may well be in the reckoning come the final weekend.
Premiership winner - Saracens
No points for originality here but a fully-loaded, in-the-mood Saracens will be impossible to stop. Sale and Bath may boast comparable first XVs but Saracens have that crucial commodity of finals experience and a depth that no one else can compete with. Just look at the back row where they have Andy Christie, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Theo McFarland, Ben Earl, Tom Willis and Billy Vunipola to choose from. Sheesh.
