World Rugby Awards Panel Announced

Players, coaches, media and fans are at the heart of an exciting new process to determine the prestigious World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year and World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year awards, following a revamp of the process ahead of the 2017 awards in Monaco.

 

 

The World Rugby Awards are the ultimate accolade for excellence in rugby on and off the field from the community to elite rugby and, since its launch in 2001, the world’s biggest names and most successful teams have been honoured.

 

 

Once the nominees for men’s and women’s player of the year awards are selected by the awards panel, voting will be open to fans via @WorldRugby social media platforms using the #WorldRugbyAwards hashtag. Players, coaches and media will also have their say on the nominees before the panel makes the final decision.

 

 

 

With the panel on a four-year rotation, presiding over the process will be a new group of playing and coaching greats, featuring World Rugby Hall of Fame inductees and former World Rugby player, coach and team of the year winners with 771 caps between them, making the panel perfectly placed to determine what it takes to be the best. 

 

They are: 

 

John Smit – former South Africa hooker and captain who led his team to victory at Rugby World Cup 2007; 111 caps; World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee #48, 2011.

 

He's a @RugbyWorldCup winner, captained the @Springboks 83 times and is now a #WorldRugbyAwards panel member. It's South Africa's John Smit. pic.twitter.com/nTvx2lzWjz

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) August 23, 2017

 

George Gregan – former Australia scrum-half and captain who was part of the Wallabies team that won Rugby World Cup 1999; 139 caps; World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee #64, 2013.

 

Your second #WorldRugbyAwards panel member is @qantaswallabies' highest ever capped player and Hall of Fame inductee, @GeorgeGregan pic.twitter.com/HbgkanTSUN

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) August 23, 2017

 

Maggie Alphonsi – former England flanker and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014 winner; 74 caps; World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee #132, 2016; 2006 Women’s Personality Award winner.

 

Drum roll please 🥁
Introducing your new #WorldRugbyAwards panel. First up, Hall of Fame inductee and @englandrugby legend @MaggieAlphonsi pic.twitter.com/sDbu2TZhqH

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) August 23, 2017

 

Clive Woodward – former England centre who coached England to victory at Rugby World Cup 2003; 21 caps plus two for British and Irish Lions; World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee #42, 2011; 2003 Coach of the Year.

 

Head coach for @EnglandRugby during their @RugbyWorldCup-winning campaign. The penultimate #WorldRugbyAwards panelist is Clive Woodward. pic.twitter.com/wbOlwWK57y

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) August 23, 2017

 

Brian O’Driscoll – former Ireland centre and captain; 133 caps plus eight for British and Irish Lions; World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee #121, 2016; 2008 IRPA Try of the Year award winner.

 

He's @irishrugby's all-time record try scorer & cap holder, a Hall of Fame inductee & #WorldRugbyAwards panel member. It's Brian O'Driscoll pic.twitter.com/rYzVaDyLiG

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) August 23, 2017

 

Agustín Pichot – former Argentina scrum-half and captain; 71 caps; World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee #46, 2011; 2008 IRPA Special Merit Award winner.

 

He played in four Rugby World Cups, captained @UnionArgentina and is a Hall of Fame inductee. Your #WorldRugbyAwards panel member @AP9_ pic.twitter.com/yMcX0Nne3G

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) August 23, 2017

 

 

Richie McCaw – former New Zealand flanker and captain who led his team to victory at Rugby World Cup 2011 and 2015; 148 caps, 2006, 2009 and 2010 Player of the Year.

 

Most capped player of all time, former World Rugby player of the year & double @RugbyWorldCup winner. Richie McCaw joins the Awards panel. pic.twitter.com/FsEFuZQ71y

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) August 23, 2017

 

Fabien Galthié – former France scrum-half and captain; 64 caps; 2002 Player of the Year

 

World Rugby Player of the Year in 2002, @FFRugby captain and Hall of Fame inductee. The final #WorldRugbyAwards panelist, Fabien Galthie pic.twitter.com/sAStC0XdxL

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) August 23, 2017

 

The World Rugby Coach and Team of the Year will be selected by the panel with entries open to both men’s and women’s sevens and 15s.