IRB Awards

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The IRB Awards are given out annually by the International Rugby Board, the worldwide governing body for rugby union, for major achievement in the sport. They were first awarded in 2001.

1 2007
2 2006
3 2005
4 2004
5 2003
6 2002
7 2001

[edit] 2007

IRB International Player of the Year: Bryan Habana, South Africa
IRB International Team of the Year: South Africa
IRB International Coach of the Year: Jake White, South Africa
IRB Under-19 Player of the Year: Robert Fruean, New Zealand
IRB Sevens Player of the Year: Afeleke Pelenise, New Zealand
IRB Sevens Team of the Year: New Zealand
IRB Women's Personality of the Year: Sarah Corrigan, referee, Australia
- In 2007, she became the first woman ever to referee in an IRB 15-man tournament outside of the Women's Rugby World Cup when she took charge of the match between Zimbabwe and Canada in the 2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship.
IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Dick Byres, retired, Australia
- After refereeing 14 Tests, he was a charter member of the IRB Referee Selector panel when it was formed in 1997, and was the longest-serving member of the panel when he retired in 2007.
Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: José María Epalza, Spain
- After a playing career that saw him earn 38 caps for Spain, and coaching the Spanish national team from 1986 to 1990, he went on to a distinguished career in rugby administration, serving in several key posts in the Spanish Rugby Federation and FIRA–AER.
IRB Development Award: Jacob Thompson, Jamaica
- Ever since returning home to Jamaica from England in the 1970s, Thompson has tirelessly worked to promote the sport in his homeland. He has been president of the Jamaica Rugby Union since 1999.
Spirit of Rugby Award: Nicolás Pueta, Argentina
- Pueta regularly plays club rugby despite having a congenital condition that led to the amputation of one of his legs in childhood.
IRPA Try of the Year: Takudzwa Ngwenya, United States
IRPA Special Merit Award: Fabien Pelous, France
- Pelous is the most-capped player in France history, and also the most-capped lock ever.
IRB Hall of Fame inductees:

[edit] 2006

IRB International Player of the Year: Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
IRB International Team of the Year: New Zealand
IRB International Coach of the Year: Graham Henry (New Zealand)
IRB International U19 Player of the Year: Josh Holmes (Australia)
IRB International U21 Player of the Year: Lionel Beauxis (France)
IRB International Sevens Team of the Year: Fiji
IRB International Sevens Player of the Year: Uale Mai (Samoa)
Spirit of Rugby Award: Polly Miller
Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Brian Lochore
IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Peter Marshall
IRB International Women's Personality of the Year: Margaret Alphonsi
IRB Development Award: Mike Luke
IRB Hall of Fame inductees: William Webb Ellis and Rugby School

[edit] 2005

IRB International Player of the Year: Daniel Carter (New Zealand)
IRB International Team of the Year: New Zealand
IRB International Coach of the Year: Graham Henry (New Zealand)
IRB International U19 Player of the Year: Isaia Toeava (New Zealand)
IRB International U21 Player of the Year: Tatafu Polota-Nau (Australia)
IRB International Sevens Team of the Year: Fiji
IRB International Sevens Player of the Year: Orene Ai’i (New Zealand)
Spirit of Rugby Award: Jean Pierre Rives
Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Peter Crittle
IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Paddy O'Brien
IRB International Women's Personality of the Year: Farah Palmer
IRB Development Award: Robert Antonin
IRB Chairman's Award: Sir Tasker Watkins V.C., G.B.E, D.L

[edit] 2004

IRB International Player of the Year: Schalk Burger (South Africa)
IRB International Team of the Year, in association with Sodexho: South Africa
IRB International Coach of the Year: Jake White (South Africa)
IRB International U19 Player of the Year: Jeremy Thrush (New Zealand)
IRB International U21 Player of the Year in association with Waterford Crystal: Jerome Kaino (New Zealand)
IRB International Sevens Team of the Year: New Zealand
IRB International Sevens Player of the Year: Simon Amor (England)
Spirit of Rugby Award: Jarrod Cunningham
Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Ronnie Dawson
IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Jim Fleming
IRB International Women’s Personality of the Year: Donna Kennedy
IRB Development Award: Guedel Ndiaye
IRB Chairman’s Award: Marcel Martin