World Rugby Awards Explained

World Rugby Awards
Awarded For:Excellence in rugby
Presenter:World Rugby
Website:World Rugby Awards

The World Rugby Awards are given out annually by World Rugby (until November 2014, known as the International Rugby Board), the worldwide governing body for rugby union, for major achievements in the sport. The idea of rewarding excellence in rugby was disclosed in 2001 following the Annual Meeting of the International Rugby Board Council in Copenhagen,[1] and the first ceremony was first awarded later that year.[2] [3] The International Rugby Players' Association also gives out awards, for Try of the Year (since 2007), and Special Merit, as a part of the programme. As of 2021, they now present Women's Try of the Year.

In 2020, World Rugby decided to "look back on a decade of international rugby" instead of presenting the usual awards. Six of the categories were decided by fan votes and two by a selected panel. The 'Special Edition Awards' focused on "...members of the rugby family who had showcased solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting their communities and getting involved in relief efforts."[4]

World Rugby reintroduced the normal awards in 2021 with a few new additions. Unlike previous years where a majority of the awards were selected by an independent panel, half of the categories will now be selected by public voting.[5] [6]

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Richie McCaw,

Graham Henry,

2007

Bryan Habana,

Jake White,

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 and in the 2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship.

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.

After a playing career that saw him earn 38 caps for, 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.

Pueta regularly plays club rugby despite having a congenital femoral deficiency that meant that his left leg never grew to the same size as his right one.

Pelous is the most-capped player in France history, and also the most-capped lock ever.

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.

2008

Shane Williams,

Graham Henry,

Luke Braid,

DJ Forbes,

2009

Declan Kidney (Ireland)

The town of L'Aquila, with long rugby traditions, was hit on 6 April 2009 by an earthquake which left 307 people dead and tens of thousands homeless. Amongst the victims was promising young prop Lorenzo Sebastiani, who had played in the last IRB Junior World Championship in Wales. L'Aquila Rugby Club provided shelter, refuge and comfort to people in the town. L'Aquila's Rugby were in the front line of the rescue effort, and helped evacuate victims from damaged buildings.

Mr Lin was the first person from Asian countries to receive this award, for his decades of dedication to promote rugby sport in Taiwan, and also his selfless contribution to the world rugby society.

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Note: Some of the awards for this year were presented before 19 November, when the International Rugby Board changed its name to the current World Rugby.

2015

2016

[8]

2017

[9]

2018

2019

2020

Fan Awards

World Rugby Awards Panel Choice

Celebrating Rugby's Heroes of COVID-19

Due to the effects of COVID-19, members of the rugby family did all they could to help.

2021

Dream Team

  1. Annaëlle Deshayes
  2. Agathe Sochat
              1. Sarah Bern Safi N’Diaye Abbie Ward Zoe Aldcroft Karen Paquin Poppy Cleall Laure Sansus

2022

Dream Team

2023

Dream Team

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 4 April 2001 . IRB announce new awards scheme . . 19 February 2021. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210219160823/https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/15350290/irb-announce-new-awards-scheme. 19 February 2021 . dmy-all .
  2. News: Murray . Shane . 12 November 2001 . Wood wins prestigious title . . 18 February 2021. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210218195251/http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2001/1112/159979-woodk/ . 18 February 2021 . dmy-all .
  3. News: 30 November 2004 . Wood wins top award . . 20 February 2021. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210220105842/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/1651317.stm . 20 February 2021 . dmy-all .
  4. Web site: Awards Roll of Honour World Rugby Awards - Special Edition 2020. 2021-12-23. www.world.rugby.
  5. Web site: New twist for World Rugby awards. 2021-12-23. rugby365.com. en.
  6. Web site: Major shake-up announced for World Rugby awards. 2021-12-23. www.rugbypass.com. en.
  7. http://www.voxy.co.nz/sport/irb-announces-development-award-2010-winner/5/68652 Irb Announces Development Award 2010 Winner
  8. Web site: Barrett and Hunter named World Rugby Players of the Year 2016. 15 November 2016. World Rugby. 17 November 2016.
  9. Web site: Barrett and Woodman named World Rugby Players of the Year 2017. 27 November 2017. World Rugby. 1 April 2018.
  10. Web site: Italy flanker Maxime Mbanda volunteers as ambulance driver. 2021-12-23. Sky Sports. en.
  11. Web site: Coronavirus: Sarah Hunter's open letter to NHS workers and the UK during lockdown. 2021-12-23. Sky Sports. en.
  12. Web site: 2020-04-05. Rugby star ‘leads’ Covid-19 fight. 2021-12-23. The Standard. en-US.
  13. Web site: New Zealand rugby players volunteering during Covid-19 lockdown. 2021-12-23. superrugby.co.nz. en-GB.
  14. Web site: Canada rugby duo raise their game, step up to help in hard times. 2021-12-23. Victoria Times Colonist. en.
  15. Web site: "Rugby Soupe" – Montreal Rugby Community Takes Action During Covid-19. 2021-12-23. Rugby Canada. en.
  16. Web site: Springboks assist with packing food parcels in Cape Town. 2021-12-23. SA Rugby.
  17. Web site: Orlinsky. Katie. USA rugby player on the front lines of a pandemic. 2021-12-23. ESPN.com.
  18. Web site: 2020-04-21. Back-rower To Hospital Cleaner: Bakary Meite Joins France's Fight against Coronavirus. 2021-12-23. News18. en.
  19. Web site: Rugby star shines on Red Road. 2021-12-23. www.telegraphindia.com.
  20. Web site: 2020-04-09. Welsh rugby star Jamie Roberts volunteering on NHS frontline during sport hiatus. 2021-12-23. talkSPORT. en-US.

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