Australian players have had an extremely impressive 2015 in what was a huge year for rugby, and their efforts have been recognised on an international scale at the annual World Rugby Awards held in London earlier this morning following the Rugby World Cup Final yesterday.
Wallaby stalwart, Nathan Sharpe was recognised with The International Rugby Player’s Association (IRPA) Special Merit Award together with Ireland’s revered, Brian O’Driscoll. Presented by The IRPA, the world representative body for professional rugby players, the award was presented to Sharpe and O’Driscoll as two former Test captains who each played over 100 games for their country.
Wallabies, Matt Giteau, David Pocock and Captain, Stephen Moore were announced in World Rugby’s Team of the Rugby World Cup 2015 alongside some of the most stand-out players of the tournament.
World Rugby’s Coach of the Year went to Michael Cheika, who thoroughly deserved the accolade after guiding the Men in Gold to one of their most successful seasons in years, after just 12 months in the role. There is no doubt he has inspired the Wallabies’ mental and physical journey, which has quite clearly paid dividends for the players, both as athletes and human beings.
David Pocock and Michael Hooper were both nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year. David and Michael are considered two of the Wallabies’ strongest and most consistent players, admired the world over for their relentless effort on the field and their leadership and character off the field.
The Wallabies team as a whole were also recognised for their hard work, as one of four teams nominated for World Rugby Team of the Year with Argentina, Japan and the victors, New Zealand, teams who each had extremely impressive Rugby World Cup campaigns.
Aussie Sevens representative Charlotte Caslick was the only other Australian player nominated for a World Rugby Award for Women’s Sevens Player of the Year, together with Sarah Goss from New Zealand, Nadezhda Kudinova from Russia and the winner, Portia Woodman also from New Zealand.
The Kiwis cleaned up at the international awards night, winning Team of the Year as the 2015 Rugby World Cup Champions, after becoming the first side to win the gong three times in its history. Nehe Milner-Skudder won Breakthrough Player of the Year, Try of the Year went to Julian Savea while Dan Carter was announced as the Player of the Year.
Thirteen awards were presented in total, with other accolades including the Award for Character, the Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service, Women’s Player of the Year, Sevens Player of the Year, Referee of the Year and Rugby World Cup Best Match Moment.
The World Rugby Awards recognise top performances across the game in 2015 and, like RUPA’s Annual Awards, reward players for both their on and off field achievements.
RUPA’s 2015 Awards Lunch is coming up in December, and after such a successful year in rugby, coupled with RUPA’s 20th anniversary celebration in 2015 it is sure to be a huge event. Stay tuned for more information to come.
