Rising All Black star Will Jordan picked up the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award after a sensational 2021 season in which he burst onto the international scene.
The Crusaders winger is known as a try-scoring machine and the 23-year-old from Christchurch continued this form into his New Zealand career, scoring 17 tries in just 13 appearances.
Jordan has been one of the revelations of the last year and has proven himself to be as efficient on the scoreboard in the All Blacks jersey as he is at provincial and franchise level.
He made his first start for New Zealand against Australia last year before getting injured, eventually coming back for the final Bledisloe Cup match of the year, scoring two tries in a commanding 38-0 victory.
Congratulations Will Jordan on being named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year in association with Tudor 👏🏽
Check out Will’s reaction to winning the award 🏆#WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/TNXT4Ds45B
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) December 7, 2021
Jordan has, of course, been on a path towards stardom since a young age, despite suffering from blurred vision and neck problems which nearly ended his career before it had even started.
A prolific schoolboy player, Jordan’s stock has only risen as he has progressed up the professional ladder, with some touting the youngster as the next Israel Dagg of the All Blacks.
Jordan’s main position has been full back for the Crusaders but, as All Blacks head coach Iain Foster has shown with other star names such as Damien McKenzie, Beauden and Jordie Barrett and Richie Mo’unga, playing him somewhat ‘out of position’ on the wing has not seemed to restrict how he plays.
In fact, the switch to the wing has enabled Jordan to stand out despite the presence of the above players, typified by his five tries against Fiji earlier this year and hat-trick in New Zealand’s 104-16 victory over the United States.
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