The Forwards | Team of the Year 2024

[@Bingo-x4s]

Hit the notification quicker than Danny Care signed his Quins extension contract

[@scrum19]

😂😂

[@glenallen196]

Fabulous edition, wonderful descriptions of magnificent players. Loved the aoife wafers inclusion. Feel for the Argentinian.back row...terrific year

[@RiaanLouw]

What the fuck? This list is not the same as the 999 other team of the year lists all over the internet?! The uniqueness has made me so upset I'm compelled to write this comment instead of just leaving.

[@MrStarfishPrime]

The Antoine Dupont of rugby channels.

[@yyddddllllyy5870]

Mauvaka is an absolute freak, man. I spent years wondering how the hell anyone is going to top Marchand and then France just spawn another freak who's somehow better. Why won't they let the NH rest???

[@098saw]

I'm also scard about the number of players from the french southern pacific islands. new caledonia, wallis and futuna already have a few french internationals. once tonga catches on ill be very scared

[@waynemurray5084]

Tip: DO NOT buy your wife a 'Salads don't win scrums' t-shirt. Especially not for Christmas.

[@flatulentpaul]

That has divorce written all over it

[@Catmouflage]

WAFER!!! Cheers Squidge, great list as always, and it's awesome to see you cover her in more depth. Can't wait for the W6N videos!

[@DrasticNibbles]

Might have missed it if it was in there, but if not it seems mad to me to not even give an honourable mention to Zander Fagerson - consistently putting in hugely impressive 80 minute (or thereabouts) performances, absolutely instrumental in the URC title run. Dude had a phenomenal year! Otherwise another great video from Squidge.

[@jonnyterrell]

His 80 minutes in the pro 14 final was a performance for the ages.

[@danielmckinlay9809]

Glasgow don’t win any of the urc knock out games without him, let alone the final. He might not be Scotland or glasgows best player but he is their most important player and definitely deserved at least a shout out

[@McDJNomi]

In scotlands game against the boks you immediately saw when he came off. He is so important in the scrum. But he's also good in open play

[@speak_your_truth.]

Indeed. Worth a big shout out.

[@MrSamlaycock]

hits more rucks, makes more meters, makes more tackles than any other prop in world rugby and has added some distribution to game. an absurd omission.

[@chriscross69]

i am OVERJOYED to see aoife wafer in this XV!! quite simply a marvel! setting the standard for not only women’s rugby in ireland but women’s rugby as a whole..and at only 21!

[@simonkelly3173]

Genuinely so happy to see Aoife Wafer in there; probably my favourite player in any format currently. That WXV game against New Zealand was one of the most dominant individual performances I've ever seen, and was such a revival for Irish women's rugby. I don't think Scott Bemand's phenomenal work can be overstated either.

[@andrewwest8334]

Great stuff again guys! As always, it’s great that you highlight so many of the less obvious players of our beautiful game that I would never usually get to appreciate. Between your thoughtful, brilliant videos and Andrew Forde’s excellent compilations we get the most perfect combo of the world’s best RUGBY served up on a plate for our viewing / listening pleasure and your hard work is hugely appreciated. 👍 🏉

[@ThabaniTBowseHadebe0909]

I'm a Zulu! I'm Farm grown! My FIRE (Keep going kak) comes from my number 1 BOKKE! Pieter Steph du Toi! My favourite Rubgy Player of all TIME! Ngoba iNkunzi! Indoda ema dodeni kumi! GO BOKKE!! Stronger together!

[@71bootneck]

We need the Zulu Nation to start playing more rugby.

[@Amandla-Awethu]

I always thought Schalk Burger was the best modern day forward we produced. But now we have 2 that are better, Eben and PSTD. And Siya the best captain of the game ever. What a time to be alive for a Bokke fan.

[@dn822]

Hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie

[@rzcrzc1449]

Ooooo Tony Brown as coach of the year is a good one!

[@benoitloubens7691]

A bit sad you couldn't mention Meafou in the honorable mentions, he has been exceptionnal for Toulouse this year and played had his first caps for France.

[@thomashughes7336]

Nice to see Dewi Lake get an honourable mention. One of the shining lights in a truly dim year for Wales. That man gives absolutely everything every single time he has the chance in a red shirt. We're going to miss him in the 6N.

[@mikebrownphotography2784]

Ox's game outside of the scrum has just gone up and up this year! His carries, tackles and hands are immense!

[@jonask6646]

TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHINING ABOUT THIS TEAM: CREATE YOUR OWN TEAM AND PUT IN A VIDEO. You’re perfectly free to do so. As is Squidge. Simple as that. Great vid as always.

[@speak_your_truth.]

🥱😴

[@marnoster]

Surprised Du Pont didn’t get the nod for each of these. I mean what more does he have to do?

[@sirfrancis6058]

He'd probably do an ok job at flanker given his breakdown skills

[@chriscross69]

fantastic to hear a nod to neve jones as well - started playing rugby at my home club :)

[@rpapibear13]

Mauvaka also had to play 8 man to fill in for france this year.

[@ThomasBarthoulot]

He played 6 actually

[@johnleo2668]

Great to see a shout out for Cory Daniel with USA. He has maybe 7 years of rugby under his belt. 20:36

[@DustyD47]

If you’re mad about this list (because he has different picks or god forbid - there’s women) remember this is a video highlighting/celebrating the sport we love. It’s light, good natured fun. If it causes you anger that’s more a reflection on you than Squidge

[@scottybot2003]

Mauvaka is like if Tualagi played in the front row, absolute handful and wrecking ball.

[@wexham08]

"has more energy than a Solar-Powered Rabbit in a Swedish Summer" was a pretty special description.

[@raghallaighj]

delighted to see Aoife Wafer here; what a year she’s had in the green jersey

[@saoirsedeltufo7436]

I don't have any specific issues with the team (was gunning for Mauvaka and Wafer especially) but Beirne 4 and Etzebeth 5 is just the wrong way round and I can't believe you'd torment us like this!

[@c0222]

I'd suggset Zander Fagerson for tighthead with 3 back to back to back 80 minutes of knockout rugby to win the URC with Glasgow.

[@georgehornsby2075]

Would be a nice addition to show a team sheet at the end of the video before/during credits

[@another_cipher099]

Really Squidge? Another New Zealander? I'm not even mad though...all my utmost respect to Tony Brown and his brilliant tactics in the Bok outfit.

[@cycyvuvyvdx]

Yessss Aoife wafer!!!

[@desmondwixted7862]

Great call on Wafer. Had my fingers crossed for her to get the nod. I see what you see Sir.

[@Weemanriley]

Love that you keep doing a mixed gender team, one of my favourite things about the team of the year!

[@rhino5681]

"Now, now, with Locks, Nobody is Perfect", its true, I heard this quote myself from former Wallabies Captain John "Nobody" Eales.

[@GSBWorkingDogs-Rugby]

How the hell does Zander not even get a mention. His back to back 80 minute performances in the URC semi & final alone deserved its plaudits. Pretty much nailed on lions starter if he continues his form in the 6N & definitely in contention with Lomax for best no. 3 in the men’s game this year

[@Amandla-Awethu]

Love the shout out to Tony Brown, but let’s be honest, it took Rassie’s genius to identify Brown’s game as something the Boks could pull off in their own unique way. When combined, it’s pure magic!

[@speak_your_truth.]

🥱😴

[@user-vs2hr1wq8d]

I don't get how Tony Brown qualifies. It's like calling Eddie Jones best coach at the 2007 RWC. And mixing the 2 means we now have no idea about who the best women's hooker, lock etc are.

[@grantswartz777]

At 20:08 that's not Aseza Hele, that's the scrum half Unam Tose.

[@WillOwen9]

Huh. Commentator called her Hele. I should’ve checked regardless. Sorry about that.

[@microwavefish]

Great to see so many Irish players among the big names, really looking forward to the Six Nationses this year, the quality on all sides is unreal. Ps that Beirne try was in Marseille, not Paris 👍

[@maverickmak]

One player who was utterly brilliant this year that has got very little fanfare is Pam Buisa for Canada. Another Canadian who just effortlessly slotted into a 15s jersey from the 7s program, and having huge impacts all over the park. Canada didn't even seem to really miss SdG.

[@WillOwen9]

GREAT shout. Buisa is a beeeeeast

[@andriesventer2410]

Great as ever

[@qcsorter4626]

Typical Munater bias . . . . followed by typical Leinster bias!! Brilliant! 🤣🤣🤣

[@QwentyJ]

Surprised to see no mention of Jack Dempsey!

[@DrCDBDC]

"They share the jersey", that is part of what will give SA the edge in the near future. While the myopic blog pundits still debate the Bomb Squad, SA moves ahead with growth. Great video.

[@andrasszabo1570]

He might've only played half a year at the top level, but Courtney Lawes could've made at least the honorable mentions for me. He was integral to Northampton's Premiership triumph, both as a player and as captain. They definitely couldn't have won without him.

[@brunolopez8614]

Nice video as always

[@TheBrushGuy]

One day squidge will spell caelan correctly, but today is not that day 🙏

[@Goubo2000]

No zander even in mentions ooftt

[@FG-ul6yi]

Having a woman in #3 is laughable

[@SquidgeRugby]

@@FG-ul6yi Did you watch her play?

[@oj4249]

Cameron Hanekom

[@greenplasticgun]

Confused. Why was Tadhg Beirne picked at 4 and Eben at 5? Shouldn't it be switched?

[@richardsylvester6483]

surely his nickname should be PTSD?

[@Amandla-Awethu]

It is

[@Takirifai]

Flament-Meafou deserve the honourable mention

[@c0222]

This video is not sponsored by squarespace????

[@JohannesMahlangu-y2f]

Tony Brown has added a layer Of Attack On Springbok

[@beerdedirish1563]

This guy seems to have an affinity to a blue scrum cap XD

[@sonyjim3597]

Itoje has arguably been the form lock for club and country since the wc. Not had a bad game.

[@speak_your_truth.]

Penalty machine every match.

[@benvandermerwe4934]

Cheers. 🍻🇿🇦

[@ifubeats4063]

World rugby could never lol s/o Tony Brown!!

[@Bakkies93]

At this point he’s doing it on purpose to trigger us . 🤣🤣

[@kevmckenzie19]

Beirne's excellent performance against France was in Marseille not Paris Squidgey

[@simonebernardi2983]

ROSS VINTCENT!!!!

[@TheHaggisHustler]

5:10 TEN? No Tommy Bowe??? Squidge man you're losing your touch!

[@Bakkies93]

Good video tho . Smaaaaak it bru 😅

[@etheruan]

Jack Willis - England's silly international rule shouldn't apply here

[@neill392]

The only omission, I think worth pointing out, is Muir and Matthews' Gloucester-Hartpury teammate, and newly appointed Red Roses captain, Zoe Aldcroft. I can't think of another example, where a club side managed to get 3 players in the world rugby team of the year. As many as the rest of England or the Black Ferns managed and more than any other national team. Last Sunday, with Ilona Maher, in front of a record crowd, making her Bristol Bears debut, the three of them combined to rain on that parade

[@Janpan69]

Love PSDT, but Ox should should have won player of the year.

[@joshhalladay]

Willis or Sititi for #8?

[@wolbok87]

Where is my boy Kwagga Smith? 😮

[@jordanrobinson690]

sqyuidgerugby South Africans of the year

[@stuartgebbie5639]

Fagerson brothers, Darren and Dempsey should have been mentioned purely for their URC performances alone

[@cameronround4277]

Both Fagersons but Zander in particular a big big miss.

[@stuartgebbie5639]

@cameronround4277 all are serious contenders for the Lions in my opinion

[@Forest9528]

Im ok with Tony Brown being coach of the year He is underappreciated cutrently in SA

[@struanmacdonald7217]

4 Welsh players in honourable mentions and no Scots. Ridiculous, not even Zander Fagerson. Basically just made a list of the best players in each position as well.

[@karelwillems9904]

Perhaps a less woke approach would serve your audience better. Create a separate category for men and women. It will create a much fairer comparison to compare apples with apples. Otherwise why are you not including wheelchair rugby players in this seeingly inclusive list?

[@PESVI]

squidge on his way to mispronounce tameifuna

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Squidge it’s absurd to consider women and men together

[@rubenj3522]

Hi Squidge, class video as always. Maybe a seperate video for the mens and womens rugby team of the year will make it even better?

[@SquidgeRugby]

Hi! Appreciate it, thank you. This is the seventh year we've done a mixed gender team, and 2025 will be the eighth. The point is always to celebrate the players who deserve celebrating the most. Far as the channel is concerned, rugby is rugby.

[@samuelmidzi8240]

​@@SquidgeRugby it's your channel I enjoy the analysis and I appreciate pulling back your LGBTQ.... stuff. All we want is rugby no politics or all that other stuff. Men and women are different. In soccer a good boy's u15 team can beat the best national women's team. I don't even want to want to imagine that case in rugby. Intense sport actually damages female fertility along with any other high performance physically demanding sport or job like army. Men on the other hand get stronger (excluding injuries which are common in both). Men and women are created different by God and they are not monkeys.

[@McDJNomi]

​@@samuelmidzi8240yes they are different. And thats why they dont play against each other. But they still play rugby, the same sport. And their talent and accomplishments shouldn't be talked down because it's "just women's rugby". And its their passion and their body, so any damage to their body or fertility shouldnt be your concern. Furthermore didnt squidge just highlight that maud muir is also still getting stronger Also squidge is celebrating accomplishments and passion of people. You are trying to make this political

[@aldobonaso3481]

not to be "that guy", but the answer is quite obvious when you look at Squidge's women's rugby videos, the views are diabolical compared to any of his other rugby videos. He doesn't separate them cause the views for the women's team would not be worth the effort to make the video...which is fair enough, it's his channel after all.

[@DampEarth]

Great team, as always. It's frustrating that each year I feel compelled to read the comments section here to get further gauge on the shape of certain people's narrowmindedness and stupidity. Not that the word has any application to Squidge's brilliant work, but I do wonder why the use of the word 'woke' is considered an insult. Anyone know? The only rugby channel that matters.

[@rorybessell8280]

While yes, the word woke has very quickly gone from a word used within the far-left to more commonly used as an insult by the far-right. There are also many in the middle who recognise where the left have gone too far in the culture war and use the word woke to define that. This is mostly because that word was already used and widely understood to mean that

[@jushadann6437]

Would love a seperate men's and women's team!

[@samuelmidzi8240]

Definitely

[@WillOwen9]

There is one if you watch to the honourable mentions:)

[@chrismouton1985]

Mate, I appreciate your sentiment regarding Coach of the Year, but it just has to be Rassie. The Springboks played 51 players over 2024 and only lost 2 games out of the 13 they played with only 1 point. I get that it's a team effort, but kudos has to go to the main man himself, Dr Rassie Erasmus.

[@adriaanhugo13]

your team of the year choices are questionable

[@thevanicant5364]

ooooooooh

[@Nick-18]

Hi Squidge. Can you make a seperate team of the year for women. It will do the lady's justice and they should have their own category. Cheers

[@RobertSmithson-d9u]

Already asked and answered a dozen times.

[@Nick-18]

@RobertSmithson-d9u What was the answer?

[@NickSchoonwinkel]

Why do you mix women with the men. Will the ladies fit in the men team.

[@notthedroidyourelookingfor8425]

Once again, watched nothing yet buuuuut...Why do you hate Ireland 😢

[@speak_your_truth.]

2 entries in the 8, cry harder 😭

[@notthedroidyourelookingfor8425]

@speak_your_truth. 3 nah?

[@templarrain2369]

Separate videos for men and women please.

[@benjones3748]

Why?

[@gdd2959]

Yes I agree!

[@DB_3112]

@@benjones3748 cos men and women are different.

[@tsaki_titan]

12:30 trust me my broer, nobody knows her💀🚮

[@cwheeler7392]

🥱

[@jasonsen3367]

You're missing out, she's quality

[@tsaki_titan]

@jasonsen3367 Bulletjie rugby is more entertaining

[@jasonsen3367]

@tsaki_titan it's ok to acknowledge that you're ignorant about women's rugby, it's the first step to learning about great new rugby to watch

[@Jonathan-me9ek]

I'm sorry, but no way PSDT isn't there *Last year, not this year

[@dg4900]

Did you not watch the video?

[@JasonBeer-p8m]

He was

[@Jonathan-me9ek]

@@dg4900 I meant in last year 2023

[@Jonathan-me9ek]

@@JasonBeer-p8m last year, 2023

[@chris50630]

Willing to be proven wrong here, but is there anyone who feels like the women inclusions are somewhat just to seem to be doing the "right thing" ? Im all for the woman getting the viewership and stuff but as a big rugby fan I can safely say ive never watched a womans game and dont have any intention of. Guess I kinda just want a video of the actual people I see playing throughout the year instead of just skipping a few positions in the video. Big fan however

[@Wallopy_Joe]

Maybe you could just try watching some and seeing if you like it. You never know, you might have a bit of fun.

[@SquidgeRugby]

We get more angry comments for including women than not including them, it's very much the other way around. These are just great players who deserve celebrating all the same as the men. I'm not sure why you say you never intend to watch women's rugby, but this is a World Cup year and there's never been a better time to get involved and start!

[@sebastiancooke5263]

If you're questioning whether the gender inclusivity of this video is performative, then I would say it definitely isn't. These videos have always been gender inclusive, and it always has been in the dna of this channel. At the end of the day squidge is just making videos about what he is interested in and I don't see any evidence that he isn't genuinely interested in women's rugby. You don't have to watch, there are loads of these types of videos that aren't gender inclusive.

[@WillOwen9]

Hey mate, thanks for watching! Personally I would say we aren’t doing it because it’s the “right thing”, but more just because we want to celebrate the best and most enjoyable rugby players out there. It’s okay that you haven’t watched women’s rugby yet and don’t know the players - however instead of skipping the women’s bits of these videos, that could be your gateway to getting to know a couple of players! If you love rugby, you’ll probably love women’s rugby! Because it’s pretty great. Cheers and all the best!

[@simonebernardi2983]

Also this is not your channel ahaha and you are watching for free so why are you complaining?

[@matsutendai]

You cant include woman lmao. They wouldn't be able to compete with high school boys teams.

[@tsaki_titan]

Im surprised he didnt put Antoine DuKak in this list

[@rzcrzc1449]

Can you count from 1 - 8?

[@tsaki_titan]

@rzcrzc1449 you don't get it do you?

[@normanbarrett1307]

Anton in the first few seconds of a forwards video. Get lost. If you want to piss us off, congratulations and good bye.

[@SquidgeRugby]

He's just a guy! There's clips of loads of guys, it's not a deliberate thing. Honestly man, if you get this angry about a clip of some guy you've never met, I think you might need to reflect on why properly.

[@Rolf-w5e]

It’s fun and not pissing ME off at all, quite the opposite. Antoineball 😂

[@ThomasBarthoulot]

The video literaly opens on Kolisi you dumb doorbell

[@Cpchurch87]

I’d probably step outside and get some fresh air if this is the kind of thing that gets you worked up

[@speak_your_truth.]

Don't slam the door on your way out 👋

[@AndrewLane-pm2ro]

The inclusion of women in this video makes it crap.

[@averagenerd7492]

Oh diddums there's no need to get upset i'm sure there's plenty of misogynistic content festering on the Internet that you can explore instead.

[@speak_your_truth.]

Cry harder 😭

[@jasonsen3367]

Personally, I think it makes it more interesting

[@rorybessell8280]

Not really, it's just a video highlighting some rugby players who have been excellent this year. If you're just after a team of the year, just take who he says would make a men's only team in the honourable mentions

[@Mr_b3ast_I]

Utter woke nonsense going on in this team

[@speak_your_truth.]

Cry harder 😭

[@Mr_b3ast_I]

@@speak_your_truth. utter woke nonsense going on in this team

[@speak_your_truth.]

@@Mr_b3ast_I harder dude, you can do better 😭

[@jasonsen3367]

I can't understand getting upset by the presence of women

[@speak_your_truth.]

@@Mr_b3ast_I They make some men uncomfortable clearly 😂

[@iamnutty8471]

dont think Doris deserves it, seen him get given yellows for obvious cynical offences that cost his teams points and games!

[@revanomichael]

Dude STOP BEING SO DAMN WOKE please separate the damn men from the women. Most of us don't care about women's rugby !

[@SquidgeRugby]

Well I do, and it's my team.

[@HiddenLaserTrap]

Waaaah the big bad Woke hurt me waaaah.

[@DustyD47]

His channel, his content, and it’s not woke to acknowledge women’s sporting accomplishments. You look like a fool

[@Amandla-Awethu]

It’s only woke if you don’t watch it. Open your mind a little and appreciate a new dimension. I’ve recently starting watching school rugby and that has been a revelation. What a great sport that it has something for everyone.

[@gdd2959]

Yeah weird to mix the teams like this. Seems like cringe virtue signaling