On occasion of the World Rugby Awards, to be held in Paris on 29 October, Dan Carter (New Zealand), Thierry Dusautoir (France), George Smith (Australia), Juan Martín Hernández (Argentina) and Bryan Habana (South Africa) are set to become the latest legends inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame.
World Rugby Chairman and Hall of Fame inductee Sir Bill Beaumont said: “Rugby World Cup 2023 is our 200th birthday party, the sport’s greatest celebration of togetherness. We are proud to be inducting five legends of the game, players who are indelibly linked to the remarkable Rugby World Cup story.
“Each have played a huge role in making the sport what it is today, exciting and inspiring in equal measure, while always being superb ambassadors for their sport. Their impact was greater than the field of play, it transcended sport and society, taking rugby to another level. Congratulations to our inductees. We look forward to celebrating their achievements at the World Rugby Awards in Paris on 29 October” Beaumont added.
The contributions of Dan Carter (New Zealand), Thierry Dusautoir (France), George Smith (Australia), Juan Martín Hernández (Argentina) and Bryan Habana (South Africa) to the game will be celebrated at the gala event, which takes place a day after the Rugby World Cup 2023 final.
The World Rugby Hall of Fame presented by TUDOR recognises those who have made an outstanding contribution to the game of rugby throughout their careers, while also demonstrating rugby’s character-building values of integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline and respect.
Carter, a two-time Rugby World Cup winner and the record points-scorer in test rugby, produced a virtuoso display in the 2015 final to help New Zealand create history by winning back-to-back tournaments, while speedster Habana scored a record-equalling eight tries as South Africa lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in France in 2007.
RWC 2007 was a breakout tournament for Argentina with Hernández pulling the strings as Los Pumas stunned hosts France twice en route to winning the bronze final. Dusautoir and Smith, meanwhile, suffered final heartbreak in 2003 and 2011 respectively.
The five inductees bring the total in the Hall of Fame to 166 since it began in 2006.