Rugby fans can start voting for their own International Player of the Year and World XV of the Year following the release of a 45-strong shortlist of contenders.
Part of the inaugural Ultimate Rugby IRPA Awards, the Fans’ Player of the Year, and World XV of the Year will be decided by votes cast on Ultimate Rugby’s mobile app, and announced in conjunction with other category winners on November 26.
For their World XV of the Year award, fans will be asked to pick one of the three nominated finalists in each of the 15 playing positions; for the Player of the Year they’ll be invited to choose just one name from the shortlist.
Anyone can vote as a fan: rugby enthusiasts, players, officials – even referees.
All they need to do is go to www.ultimaterugby.com, download the mobile app and follow the voting instructions contained within.
The 45-man shortlist, prepared by a panel of IRPA recently retired international players, features players from 11 nations.
World ranked No 1 New Zealand has the most entries with 14 players, followed by Wales (8), South Africa (5), France (4), Argentina (3), Samoa (3), Australia (3), Ireland (2), England (1), Italy (1) and Fiji (1).
The shortlist for the Fans’ Player and World XV of the Year awards (in order of playing position) is:
1. Vincent Debaty (Fra), Alex Corbiseiro (Eng), Marcos Ayerza (Arg)
2. Bismarck du Plessis (SA), Benjamin Kayser (Fra), Richard Hibbard (Wales)
3. Juan Figallo (Arg), Adam Jones (Wales), Census Johnston (Samoa)
4. Sam Whitelock (NZ), Eben Eztebeth (SA), Joe Tekori (Samoa)
5. James Horwill (Aus), Brodie Retallick (NZ), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
6. Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (Arg), Louis Picomoles (Fra), Liam Messam (NZ)
7. Sean O’Brien (Ire), Richie McCaw (NZ), Francois Louw (SA)
8. Kieran Read (NZ), Sergio Parisse (Italy), Toby Faletau (Wales)
9. Kahn Fotuali’l (Samoa), Aaron Smith (NZ), Will Genia (Aus),
10. Dan Carter (NZ), Johnny Sexton (Ire), Aaron Cruden (NZ)
11. George North (Wales), Julian Savea (NZ), Sitiveni Sivivatu (NZ)
12. Jamie Roberts (Wales), Ma’a Nonu (NZ), Jean de Villiers (SA)
13. Wesley Fofana (Fra), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Conrad Smith (NZ)
14. Israel Folau (Aus), Ben Smith (NZ), Napolioni Nalaga (Fiji)
15. Willie Le Roux (SA), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales) Israel Dagg (NZ)
1. Alex Corbiseiro
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Adam Jones
4. Sam Whitelock
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Liam Messam
7. Richie McCaw
8. Kieran Read
9. Aaron Smith
10. Dan Carter
11. George North
12. Jean de Villiers
13. Jonathan Davies
14. Ben Smith
15.Leigh Halfpenny
1 @ Just For Kicks:
Hi JFK That looks like a strong team you picked, pretty much agree although may have gone for Eben Etzebeth at 4 although you would have seen more of them play so probably better placed to judge and Wesley Fofana at 13 who I think is a brilliant player for France, but Davies definitely made his mark on the Lions tour so probably not much between them. Also heard lots of good things about 11 Julian Savea. It says something about the level the All Blacks are on at the moment that you have picked them in almost half of the team.
1 @ Just For Kicks:
Corbisiero, Adam Jones & Jonathan Davies are all injured…
1 @ Just For Kicks:
An all NZ loose trio.
Interesting. Although I must say that Read seems to be getting better by the year.
I think a player like Parisse would really stand out in a better side that Italy. Hard working bugger in a generally lost cause.
@ grootblousmile: Is this not a hypothetical team then? I thought it was, but couldn’t be asked to download the app, so just put down who would be in my favourite team.
@ Scrumdown: Yes, thought about that when I was doing it, would love to put Flo in there, and I think in 12 months he would be, and also agree with Parisse, who would be on the bench.
@ Bullscot:As with Flo, Eben will definitely be in my team in 12 months – barring injury!
5 @ Just For Kicks:
Oh, OK… in a hypothetical team (injuries ignored)… strong bloody side
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