The Springboks’ captain was recognised with the annual Pat Marshall Memorial Award at the RUWC’s annual dinner in London following a poll of its 200-plus members.
The tough flanker, who was appointed South Africa’s first black test captain in 2018, helped transform the side to win last year’s Rugby Championship and then their third World Cup when they overwhelmed England 32-12 in the Yokohama final.
Kolisi won admirers the world over for his performances on the pitch in Japan.
His grace off the pitch, particularly following the triumph when he talked so emotionally and eloquently of his remarkable journey to the game’s summit after being raised in poverty by his grandmother in a township outside Port Elizabeth endeared him to many.
The shortlist for the 2019 award, named after the former Daily Express rugby correspondent, was dominated by South Africa, with Coach Rassie Erasmus and scrumhalf Faf de Klerk also nominated, along with Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones and Japan skipper Michael Leitch.
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