Springboks take out international sports award

Mon, Feb 17, 2020, 9:34 PM
AAP
by AAP
The Springboks have taken out the Team of the Year at this year's Laureus Awards. Photo: Getty Images
The Springboks have taken out the Team of the Year at this year's Laureus Awards. Photo: Getty Images

The Springboks have taken out the Laureus Sports Team of the Year at the annual international awards but former Brumbies skipper Christian Lealiifano has missed out on a nod.

South Africa beat out the US women's soccer team, Liverpool FC, Spain's world Cup winning basketball side, the NBA's Toronto Raptors and the Mercedes AMG F1 team to take out the prestigious award.

It comes off the back of the impact their World Cup win had on the broader community in South Africa.

Wallabies and Brumbies 10 Lealiifano was nominated for the Laureus comeback of the year award after playing at the Rugby World Cup three years after being diagnosed with leukaemia.

Motor racing driver Sophia Florsch won the award, returning to racing after a car crash that led to a marathon spinal surgery and fears that she would be left with paralysis.

It doesn't seem like Lealiifano will be too disappointed with the result, simply grateful to be healthy and living life with his family.

"You feel like you have won already,” Lealiifano told RUGBY.com.au earlier this month.

"You probably shouldn’t get an award for being recognised for being healthy and alive. I have been given the gift of life already.”

Japan's men's XVs side also missed out on collecting the prize for Breakthrough of the Year for their World Cup quarter-final berth, losing out to cyclist Egan Bernal

WINNERS

Laureus Sports Awards

List of winners

Sportsman of the Year

Lewis Hamilton and Lionel Messi

Sportswoman of the Year

Simone Biles

Team of the Year

South Africa Men's Rugby Team

Breakthrough of the Year

Egan Bernal

Comeback of the Year

Sophia Floersch

Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability

Oksana Masters

Action Sportsperson of the Year

Chloe Kim

Best Sporting Moment

'Carried on the shoulders of a nation' – Sachin Tendulkar

Lifetime Achievement Award

Dirk Nowitzki

Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement Award

Spanish Basketball Federation

Laureus Sport for Good Award

South Bronx United

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