Kolisi led South Africa to the RWC title in Japan at the start of November.

“It's a great honour and a privilege for me and it's great to see people recognise people that use their voice and use their platform and do some work off the field as well and it will inspire people to do more,” the Bok skipper said after receiving the award in Monaco.

“We're not just sportsmen. We can do much more off the field.”

Kolisi also praised the impact of the Springboks at the RWC tournament in Japan and back home in South Africa, and said the momentous win in Japan was a collective effort.

“You're playing a team sport and that always makes it hard to get individual accolades because there are so many people around me that have helped me," he said.

"Among my team mates there are so many other leaders. I don't like taking all the credit because it's not just me, the coaches, the physios, everybody adds value to anything the team achieves."

The South African skipper is also a nominee for the prestigious BBC World Sports Star of the Year award. He is up against golfing great Tiger Woods, road runner Eliud Kipchoge, and former Australian Cricket captain, Steve Smith among others.

Kolisi was also gracious on this nomination, tweeting that the RWC win was not just about him, but a Springbok team effort.