DUBLIN (AP) — South Africa hooker Malcolm Marx was crowned the men's world rugby player of the year on Saturday, moments after his Springboks beat Ireland 24-13 in Dublin.
Marx was named the man of the match.
He received his first world's best player award from Springboks great Victor Matfield, seven years after his only other nomination.
Also shortlisted were teammates Pieter-Steph du Toit, the award winner in 2019 and 2024, and Ox Nche, the first prop to be nominated in the award's 24-year history.
The other nominee was France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, whose eight tries in the Six Nations were the most in a single tournament in 100 years.
Marx was the joint leading try-scorer with four in the Rugby Championship that South Africa won. His five test tries this year improved his record to 26 in 87 tests; the only forward in South Africa's all-time top 10.
He's also the fourth Springbok to win the men's award after Du Toit, Schalk Burger (2004) and Bryan Habana (2007).
New Zealand lock Fabian Holland was named the breakthrough player of the year.
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
FILE -South Africa's Malcolm Marx, center, scores a try during the Rugby Championship match between Argentina and South Africa at Twickenham stadium, in London, Oct. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Jose Altuve scored the go-ahead run in the 10th inning on a popout to shallow center field, and Houston Astros left fielder Brice Matthews threw out Mike Trout at home plate in the bottom half to preserve a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night.
Christian Walker hit an RBI single for Houston off Kirby Yates with one out in the ninth, tying it 4-all. Walker also had an RBI double in the third.
Altuve began the 10th as the automatic runner at second base and moved to third on Matthews' bunt single. Sam Aldegheri (1-1) struck out Cam Smith and got Jake Meyers to pop out to a backpedaling Nick Madrigal behind second. Altuve tagged up and took off, sliding in safely at the plate when catcher Logan O'Hoppe couldn't come up with an in-between hop on Madrigal's throw home.
O’Hoppe was charged with an error on the play, and Meyers was not credited with an RBI.
Trout started the bottom of the 10th as the automatic runner on second, but was erased trying to score on a leadoff single by Jose Siri. Bryan Abreu then struck out Jo Adell and retired Denzer Guzman on a liner to left for his fourth save.
Josh Hader (1-0) struck out the side in the ninth for the win.
Trey Mancini got three hits for the Angels in his first major league game since July 31, 2023, with the Chicago Cubs. Mancini had an RBI single in the first before O’Hoppe’s two-run double off Spencer Arrighetti to give the Angels a 3-0 lead.
Arrighetti allowed three runs on four hits and four walks in six innings.
Isaac Paredes doubled leading off the sixth and scored on a one-out double by LaMonte Wade Jr., who limped into second and was replaced by Matthews. Smith chased starter Grayson Rodriguez with an RBI double that tied it at 3.
Zach Neto hit his 13th homer — a solo shot off reliever Enyel De Los Santos — to put the Angels up 4-3 in the seventh.
Jeremy Peña drew a leadoff walk from Yates in the ninth and stole second before scoring on Walker's single.
Trout went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts and a walk. He's mired in an 0-for-20 slump.
Astros RHP Kai-Wei Teng (3-4, 3.06 ERA) starts Tuesday opposite Angels RHP Walbert Ureña (3-4, 2.68).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Los Angeles Angels' Trey Mancini hits an RBI single during the second inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Monday, June 8, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Houston Astros pitcher Spencer Arrighetti delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Monday, June 8, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Grayson Rodriguez delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Monday, June 8, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout, right, slides into home base, but is called out during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Monday, June 8, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Houston Astros right fielder Cam Smith, right, is greeted by third baseman Isaac Paredes (15) after defeating the Los Angeles Angels in a baseball game Monday, June 8, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
