World Rugby Awards

The idea of rewarding excellence in rugby was disclosed in 2001 following the Annual Meeting of the International Rugby Board Council in Copenhagen, and the first ceremony was first awarded later that year. 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."

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.

• IRB Player of the Year: Keith Wood   Ireland
• IRB International Team of the Year:   Australia
• IRB International Coach of the Year: Rod Macqueen   Australia
• IRB International Young Player of the Year: Gavin Henson   Wales
• IRB International Women's Player of the Year: Shelley Rae   England
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Ed Morrison   England
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Tim Grandadge   India
• IRB Distinguished Service Award: Tom Kiernan   Ireland
• IRB Development Award: Jorge Brasceras   Uruguay
• IRB Chairman's Awards: Kath McLean, Sir Terry McLean, Albert Ferrasse, John Eales

• IRB Player of the Year: Fabien Galthié   France
• IRB International Team of the Year:   France
• IRB International Coach of the Year: Bernard Laporte   France
• IRB International U19 Player of the Year: Luke McAlister   New Zealand
• IRB International U21 Player of the Year: Pat Barnard   South Africa
• IRB International Sevens Team of the Year:   New Zealand
• IRB International Women's Player of the Year: Monique Hirovanaa   New Zealand
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Colin Hawke   New Zealand
• IRB Distinguished Services Award: Allan Hosie   Scotland
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Old Christians Club   Uruguay
• IRB Development Award: John Broadfoot   England
• IRB Chairman's Awards: Bill Mclaren, George Pippos (posthumously)

• IRB International Player of the Year: Jonny Wilkinson   England
• IRB International Team of the Year:   England
• IRB International Coach of the Year: Sir Clive Woodward   England
• IRB International U19 Player of the Year: Jean Baptiste Payras   France
• IRB International U21 Player of the Year: Ben Atiga   New Zealand
• IRB International Sevens Team of the Year:   New Zealand
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Michael & Linda Collinson   Eswatini
• IRB Award for Distinguished Service: Bob Stuart   Australia
• IRB Referee Distinguished Service Award: Derek Bevan   Wales
• IRB International Women's Personality of the Year: Kathy Flores   United States
• IRB Development Award: Tan Theany & Philippe Monnin
• IRB Chairman's Award: Vernon Pugh   Wales

• IRB International Player of the Year: Schalk Burger   South Africa
• IRB International Team of the Year:   South Africa
• IRB International Coach of the Year: Jake White   South Africa
• IRB International U19 Player of the Year: Jeremy Thrush   New Zealand
• IRB International U21 Player of the Year: Jerome Kaino   New Zealand
• IRB International Sevens Team of the Year:   New Zealand
• IRB International Sevens Player of the Year: Simon Amor   England
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Jarrod Cunningham   New Zealand
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Ronnie Dawson  Ireland
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Jim Fleming   Scotland
• IRB International Women's Personality of the Year: Donna Kennedy   Scotland
• IRB Development Award: Guedel Ndiaye   Senegal
• IRB Chairman's Award: Marcel Martin   France

• IRB International Player of the Year: Daniel Carter   New Zealand
• IRB International Team of the Year:   New Zealand
• IRB International Coach of the Year: Graham Henry   New Zealand
• IRB International U19 Player of the Year: Isaia Toeava   New Zealand
• IRB International U21 Player of the Year: Tatafu Polota-Nau   Australia
• IRB International Sevens Team of the Year:   Fiji
• IRB International Sevens Player of the Year: Orene Ai’i   New Zealand
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Jean Pierre Rives   France
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Peter Crittle   Australia
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Paddy O'Brien   New Zealand
• IRB International Women's Personality of the Year: Farah Palmer   New Zealand
• IRB Development Award: Robert Antonin   France
• IRB Chairman's Award: Sir Tasker Watkins V.C., G.B.E, D.L   Wales

• IRB International Player of the Year: Richie McCaw,   New Zealand
• IRB International Team of the Year:   New Zealand
• IRB International Coach of the Year: Graham Henry,   New Zealand
• IRB International U19 Player of the Year: Josh Holmes   Australia
• IRB International U21 Player of the Year: Lionel Beauxis   France
• IRB International Sevens Team of the Year:   Fiji
• IRB International Sevens Player of the Year: Uale Mai   Samoa
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Polly Miller
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Brian Lochore   New Zealand
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Peter Marshall   Australia
• IRB International Women's Personality of the Year: Margaret Alphonsi   England
• IRB Development Award: Mike Luke   Canada
• IRB Hall of Fame inductees: William Webb Ellis and Rugby School   England

• IRB International Player of the Year: Bryan Habana,   South Africa
• IRB International Team of the Year:   South Africa
• IRB International Coach of the Year: Jake White,   South Africa
• IRB Under-19 Player of the Year: Robert Fruean,   New Zealand
• IRB Sevens Player of the Year: Afeleke Pelenise,   New Zealand
• IRB Sevens Team of the Year:   New Zealand
• IRB Women's Personality of the Year: Sarah Corrigan, referee,   Australia
  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   Zimbabwe and   Canada in the 2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship.
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Dick Byres, retired,   Australia
  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.
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: José María Epalza,   Spain
  After a playing career that saw him earn 38 caps for   Spain, 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.
• Spirit of Rugby Award: Nicolas Pueta,   Argentina
  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.
• IRPA Try of the Year: Takudzwa Ngwenya,   United States
• IRPA Special Merit Award: Fabien Pelous,   France
  Pelous is the most-capped player in France history, and also the most-capped lock ever.
• IRB Development Award: Jacob Thompson,   Jamaica
  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.
• IRB Hall of Fame inductees:
  • Pierre de Coubertin,   France
  • Wilson Whineray,   New Zealand
  • Danie Craven,   South Africa
  • Gareth Edwards,   Wales
  • John Eales,   Australia

• IRB Player of the Year: Shane Williams,   Wales
• IRB International Team of the Year:   New Zealand
• IRB International Coach of the Year: Graham Henry,   New Zealand
• IRB Junior Player of the Year: Luke Braid,   New Zealand
• IRB International Sevens Player of the Year: DJ Forbes,   New Zealand
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Roelien Muller and Patrick Cotter
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Andre Watson   South Africa
• IRB International Women's Personality of the Year: Carol Isherwood   England
• IRPA Special Merit Award: Agustín Pichot   Argentina
• IRB Development Award: TAG Rugby Development Trust and Martin Hansford   England
• IRPA Try of the Year: Brian O'Driscoll   Ireland

• IRB Player of the Year: Richie McCaw   New Zealand
• IRB International Team of the Year:   South Africa
• IRB International Coach of the Year: Declan Kidney (Ireland)
• IRB Junior Player of the Year: Aaron Cruden   New Zealand
• IRB International Sevens Player of the Year: Ollie Phillips   England
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: L'Aquila Rugby   Italy
  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.
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: to be awarded
• IRB International Women's Personality of the Year: Debby Hodgkinson   Australia
• IRPA Special Merit Award: Kevin Mac Clancy
• IRB Development Award: 林嘉生 Lin, Chia-Sheng(Carlson Lin)   Taiwan
  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.
• IRPA Try of the Year: Jaque Fourie   South Africa

• IRB Player of the Year: Richie McCaw   New Zealand
• IRB International Team of the Year:   New Zealand
• IRB International Coach of the Year: Graham Henry   New Zealand
• IRB Junior Player of the Year: Julian Savea   New Zealand
• IRB International Sevens Player of the Year: Mikaele Pesamino   Samoa
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Jean-Claude Baqué   France
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Virreyes RC   Argentina
• IRB Women's Personality of the Year Carla Hohepa   New Zealand
• IRB Development Award winner Brian O'Shea   Australia
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service Colin High
• IRPA Try of the Year: Chris Ashton   England

• IRB Player of the Year: Thierry Dusautoir   France
• IRB International Team of the Year:   New Zealand
• IRB International Coach of the Year: Graham Henry   New Zealand
• IRB Junior Player of the Year: George Ford   England
• IRB International Sevens Player of the Year: Cecil Afrika   South Africa
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Jock Hobbs   New Zealand
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Wooden Spoon Society  United Kingdom
• IRB Women's Personality of the Year: Ruth Mitchell
• IRB Development Award winner: Rookie Rugby   USA
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Keith Lawrence   New Zealand
• IRPA Special Merit Award: George Smith   Australia
• IRPA Try of the Year: Radike Samo   Australia
• IRB Hall of Fame inductees:
  • Roger Vanderfield   Australia
  • Richard Littlejohn   New Zealand
  • Nicholas Shehadie   Australia
  • John Kendall-Carpenter   England
  • David Kirk   New Zealand
  • Nick Farr-Jones   Australia
  • Francois Pienaar   South Africa
  • Martin Johnson   England
  • John Smit   South Africa
  • Brian Lochore   New Zealand
  • Bob Dwyer   Australia
  • Kitch Christie   South Africa
  • Rod Macqueen   Australia
  • Clive Woodward   England
  • Jake White   South Africa
  • Gareth Rees   Canada
  • Agustín Pichot   Argentina
  • Brian Lima   Samoa
  • Jonah Lomu   New Zealand

• IRB Player of the Year: Dan Carter   New Zealand
• IRB International Team of the Year:   New Zealand
• IRB International Coach of the Year: Steve Hansen   New Zealand
• IRB International Sevens Player of the Year: Tomasi Cama   New Zealand
• IRB Development Award: South African Rugby Union   South Africa
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Paul Dobson   South Africa
• IRB Junior Player of the Year: Jan Serfontein   South Africa
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Viorel Morariu   Romania
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Lindsay Hilton   Canada
• IRPA Try of the Year: Bryan Habana   South Africa
• IRB Hall of Fame inductees:
• IRB Women’s Player of the Year: Michaela Staniford   England

• IRB Player of the Year: Kieran Read   New Zealand
• IRB International Team of the Year:   New Zealand
• IRB International Coach of the Year: Steve Hansen   New Zealand
• IRB Sevens Player of the Year: Tim Mikkelson   New Zealand
• IRB Women's Sevens Player of the Year: Kayla McAlister   New Zealand
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Michel Lamoulie   France
• IRPA Try of the Year: Beauden Barrett   New Zealand

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.

• World Rugby Player of the Year: Brodie Retallick   New Zealand
• World Rugby Team of the Year:   New Zealand
• World Rugby Coach of the Year: Steve Hansen   New Zealand
• IRB Sevens Player of the Year: Samisoni Viriviri   Fiji
• IRB Women's Player of the Year: Magali Harvey   Canada
• IRB Women's Sevens Player of the Year: Emilee Cherry   Australia
• IRB Junior Player of the Year: Handré Pollard   South Africa
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Bob Francis   New Zealand
• IRPA Try of the Year: Francois Hougaard   South Africa

• World Rugby Player of the Year: Dan Carter   New Zealand
• World Rugby Team of the Year:   New Zealand
• World Rugby Coach of the Year: Michael Cheika   Australia
• World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year: Nehe Milner-Skudder   New Zealand
• World Rugby Women's Player of the Year: Kendra Cocksedge   New Zealand
• World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year: Werner Kok   South Africa
• World Rugby Women's Sevens Player of the Year: Portia Woodman   New Zealand
• World Rugby Referee Award: Nigel Owens   Wales
• IRPA Try of the Year Julian Savea   New Zealand
• 2015 Rugby World Cup best match moment:   Japan's final try and victory against   South Africa
• IRPA Special Merit Award:
  • Brian O'Driscoll   Ireland
  • Nathan Sharpe   Australia
• Award for Character:   Pakistan Rugby Union
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Nigel Starmer-Smith

• World Rugby Player of the Year: Beauden Barrett   New Zealand
• World Rugby Team of the Year:   New Zealand
• World Rugby Coach of the Year: Steve Hansen   New Zealand
• World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year: Maro Itoje   England
• World Rugby Women's Player of the Year: Sarah Hunter   England
• World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year: Seabelo Senatla   South Africa
• World Rugby Women's Sevens Player of the Year: Charlotte Caslick   Australia
• World Rugby Referee Award: Alhambra Nievas   Spain and Rasta Rasivhenge   South Africa
• IRPA Try of the Year: Jamie Heaslip   Ireland
• IRPA Special Merit Award: Jean de Villiers   South Africa
• Award for Character: Rugby Opens Borders   Austria
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Syd Millar   Ireland

• World Rugby Player of the Year: Beauden Barrett   New Zealand
• World Rugby Team of the Year:   New Zealand
• World Rugby Coach of the Year: Eddie Jones   England
• World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year: Rieko Ioane   New Zealand
• World Rugby Women's Player of the Year: Portia Woodman   New Zealand
• World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year: Perry Baker   United States
• World Rugby Women's Sevens Player of the Year: Michaela Blyde   New Zealand
• World Rugby Referee Award: Joy Neville   Ireland
• IRPA Try of the Year: Joaquín Tuculet   Argentina
• IRPA Special Merit Award: Richie McCaw   New Zealand and Rachael Burford   England
• Award for Character: Eduardo Oderigo   Argentina
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Marcel Martin   France

• World Rugby Player of the Year: Johnny Sexton   Ireland
• World Rugby Team of the Year:   Ireland
• World Rugby Coach of the Year: Joe Schmidt   Ireland
• World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year: Aphiwe Dyantyi   South Africa
• World Rugby Women's Player of the Year: Jessy Tremouliere   France
• World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year: Perry Baker   United States
• World Rugby Women's Sevens Player of the Year: Michaela Blyde   New Zealand
• World Rugby Referee Award: Angus Gardner   Australia
• IRPA Try of the Year: Brodie Retallick   New Zealand
• IRPA Special Merit Award: Stephen Moore   Australia and DJ Forbes   New Zealand
• Award for Character: Doddie Weir   Scotland
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Yoshirō Mori   Japan

• World Rugby Player of the Year: Pieter-Steph du Toit   South Africa
• World Rugby Team of the Year:   South Africa
• World Rugby Coach of the Year: Rassie Erasmus   South Africa
• World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year: Romain Ntamack   France
• World Rugby Women's Player of the Year: Emily Scarratt   England
• World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year: Jerry Tuwai   Fiji
• World Rugby Women's Sevens Player of the Year: Ruby Tui   New Zealand
• World Rugby Referee Award: Wayne Barnes   England
• IRPA Try of the Year: TJ Perenara   New Zealand
• IRPA Special Merit Award: Jamie Heaslip   Ireland
• Award for Character: Kamaishi   Japan
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Bernard Lapasset   France

Fan Awards

• Men’s 15s Player of the Decade - Richie McCaw   New Zealand
• Women’s 15s Player of the Decade - Jessy Trémoulière   France
• Men’s Sevens Player of the Decade - Jerry Tuwai   Fiji
• Women’s Sevens Player of the Decade - Portia Woodman   New Zealand
• IRP Men’s 15s Try of the Decade - Jamie Heaslip   Ireland
• IRP Women’s 15s Try of the Decade - Portia Woodman   New Zealand

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.

• Maxime Mbanda
• Sarah Hunter
• Tapfuma Parirenyatwa
• New Zealand Rugby players
• Canada sevens players
• James Acker
• Springboks players
• Tess Feury
• Bakary Meité
• Shailen Tudu
• Jamie Roberts

• World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year: Antoine Dupont   France
• World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year: Zoe Aldcroft   England
• World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year: Marcos Moneta   Argentina
• World Rugby Women's Sevens Player of the Year: Anne-Cécile Ciofani   France
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Jacques Laurans   France
• World Rugby Coach of the Year: Simon Middleton   England
• World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year: Will Jordan   New Zealand
• International Rugby Players Men's Try of the Year: Damian Penaud   France
• International Rugby Players Women's Try of the Year: Emilie Boulard   France
• World Rugby Referee Award: Andrew Cole   Australia

Dream Team

• World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year: Josh van der Flier   Ireland
• World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year: Ruahei Demant   New Zealand
• World Rugby Coach of the Year: Wayne Smith   New Zealand
• World Rugby Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year: Ange Capuozzo   Italy
• World Rugby Women’s Breakthrough Player of the Year: Ruby Tui   New Zealand
• World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year: Terry Kennedy   Ireland
• World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year: Charlotte Caslick   Australia
• World Rugby Referee Award: Tappe Henning   South Africa
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Farah Palmer   New Zealand
• International Rugby Players Special Merit Award: Bryan Habana   South Africa
• International Rugby Players Men’s Try of the Year: Rodrigo Fernández   Chile (vs USA on 9 July)
• International Rugby Players Women’s Try of the Year: Abby Dow   England (vs Canada on 5 November)

Dream Team

• World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year: Ardie Savea   New Zealand
• World Rugby Women's 15s Player of the Year: Marlie Packer   England
• World Rugby Coach of the Year: Andy Farrell   Ireland
• World Rugby Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year: Mark Telea   New Zealand
• World Rugby Women's 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year: Katelyn Vaha'akolo   New Zealand
• World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year: Rodrigo Isgro   Argentina
• World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year: Tyla Nathan-Wong   New Zealand
• World Rugby Referee Award: David McHugh   Ireland
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: George Nijaradze   Georgia
• International Rugby Players Special Merit Award: John Smit   South Africa
• International Rugby Players Men’s Try of the Year: Duhan van der Merwe   Scotland (vs England on 4 February)
• International Rugby Players Women's Try of the Year: Sofia Stefan   Italy (vs Ireland on 15 April)

Dream Team