Red-hot Thomas du Toit makes clean sweep at Bath Rugby awards

Joining his colleagues at the prestigious event, the powerful front-rower was pictured suited and booted next to teammates as they posed with their awards.

Yet to complete the season, Du Toit has already amassed 21 competitive matches for Bath this season, predominantly being used as a momentum changer for the 'Bath Bomb' - the group of substitutes often used in the second half to dominate the tiring opposition scrum.

Next season, he will return to the Sharks, the Durban-based side he joined Bath from in 2023. But not before he attempts to win a back-to-back PREM silverware in June.

Such has been his impact at the club that he's been awarded the Forward of the Year, Supporter's Player of the Year, and Player's Player of the Year at this year's awards.

His return to South Africa will coincide with the 2026 World Cup, in which the giant front-rower will play an important part of the Springboks' efforts to win a third straight World Cup.

It hasn't always been easy for him at international level, however. Recently speaking to The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast, he said: "It's every Springbok's dream to play as many games as they possibly can for the Springboks, but for me it's definitely been up and down.

"There are loads of factors with it, but the reality is I've been in this generation of Springboks players that have just been the best that South Africa has ever produced."

Du Toit has had to compete with names such as Ox Nché, Vincent Koch, Wilco Louw, Tendai Mtawarira, Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe and many others for a Springbok shirt, but he's never given up on representing his country.

"My philosophy is serving the team the best way I possibly can by working unbelievably hard," he continued.

"That needs to speak for itself; if it doesn't, then I can't get selected.

"If I am genuinely working as hard as I can, giving everything and doing my role right, hopefully I can serve the team that way."