Record-breaking Springbok locks Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha have been jointly named French rugby newspaper, Midi Olympique's World Player of the Year for 2009.

Thirty rugby journalists voted for the award, with Botha and Matfield receiving the award at a function, known as rugby's Oscars, in Paris last week.

Another South African, Joe van Niekerk, who plays for Toulon, was named the French league's Best Foreign Player.

Botha and Matfield are have been the driving force behind many Springbok victories and the pair also hold the world record for Tests as a lock pairing.

Matfield also surpassed Mark Andrews's mark for the most consecutive Springbok Tests at lock while he was also the respected French sporting paper's best player in 2007 after the paper canvassed votes from 111 journalists — 56 French and 55 of other nationalities.

The previous winners of the award include South Africa's Schalk Burger, All Blacks Richie McCaw and Dan Carter.

"It is usually only given to one player, but in this case it was felt it should be given to them together," said Vivianne Valette of Midol Events.

Botha, who will miss the opening round of next year's Super 14 after undergoing an Achilles operation last Friday, said that the award was a "big honour" and a "privilege".

"We did not have the good tour that we wanted, but it was the icing on the cake to get this award," said Botha.

"It remains a great year and I take the positives from the negatives. We lost two of our three tests on tour, but it keeps us humble. It just makes us realise that we have hard work ahead. We're starting from scratch next year.

"There is no time to live in the past and it does not help we try to ride the wave from this year."

Botha added that his operation had been "100 percent successful" and he should be on the playing field in March 2010.

"I'll welcome the break of three months," he said.

"It will give me time to spend with my children and family, and I believe I'll feel three or four years younger when I return."