World Rugby Player of the Year

World Rugby Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by World Rugby. It is awarded to the player who is adjudged to have been the best performer in rugby union internationals in the preceding season, from January to the final test match of the year.^[1] In a year when the Rugby World Cup tournament is staged, performances in that event are also taken into account. It was ed the IRB International Player of the Year, and it is sometimes colloquially referred to as the IRB World Player of the Year. From 2007 until 2014, it was the IRB Player of the Year. Since 2014, following the International Rugby Board becoming World Rugby, the award has been titled the World Rugby Player of the Year.

List of winners and nominees

Year	Winner	Other nominees
2001	Keith Wood ()	George Gregan Brian O'Driscoll George Smith Jonny Wilkinson
2002	Fabien Galthié ()	Richie McCaw Joe van Niekerk Brian O'Driscoll Jason Robinson
2003	Jonny Wilkinson ()	Imanol Harinordoquy Richie McCaw Steve Thompson Phil Waugh
2004	Schalk Burger ()	Serge Betsen Gordon D'Arcy Matt Giteau Marius Joubert
2005	Dan Carter ()	Bryan Habana Victor Matfield Richie McCaw Tana Umaga
2006	Richie McCaw ( New Zealand)	Dan Carter Chris Latham Paul O'Connell Fourie du Preez
2007	Bryan Habana ( South Africa)	Felipe Contepomi Juan M. Hernández Yannick Jauzion Richie McCaw
2008	Shane Williams ( Wales)	Mike Blair Dan Carter Ryan Jones Sergio Parisse
2009	Richie McCaw ( New Zealand)	Jamie Heaslip Brian O'Driscoll Fourie du Preez Francois Steyn Matt Giteau Tom Croft
2010	Richie McCaw ( New Zealand)	Mils Muliaina Victor Matfield Imanol Harinordoquy David Pocock Kurtley Beale
2011	Thierry Dusautoir ( France)[2]	Piri Weepu Jerome Kaino Ma'a Nonu David Pocock Will Genia
2012	Dan Carter ( New Zealand)	Owen Farrell Frederic Michalak Richie McCaw
2013	Kieran Read ( New Zealand)	Eben Etzebeth Leigh Halfpenny Sergio Parisse Ben Smith
2014	Brodie Retallick ( New Zealand)	Willie le Roux Julian Savea Jonathan Sexton Duane Vermeulen

Winners by Country

7	New Zealand
2	South Africa
2	France
1	Wales
1
1	England

Multiple Nominations

8	Richie McCaw	( New Zealand)
4	Dan Carter	( New Zealand)
3	Brian O'Driscoll	()
2	Matt Giteau	( Australia)
2	David Pocock	( Australia)
2	Fourie du Preez	( South Africa)
2	Brian Habana	( South Africa)
2	Imanol Harinordoquy	( France)
2	Jonny Wilkinson	( England)
2	Sergio Parisse	()
2	Victor Matfield	( South Africa)

Multiple Wins

3	Richie McCaw	( New Zealand)
2	Dan Carter	( New Zealand)

Nominations by Country

20	New Zealand
13	South Africa
10	Australia
8
7	France
6	England
3	Wales
2	Argentina
2	Italy
1	Scotland

Other World Rugby Awards

External links

• Official IRB website: Awards

1. ↑
2. ↑ "Dusautoir crowned IRB player of year". ESPNscrum. 24 October 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.