All Blacks: Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane shortlisted for World Rugby Player of the Year

  • 03/11/2018
Beauden Barrett
Beauden Barrett Photo credit: Photosport

All Blacks duo Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane have been named on the five-man shortlist for World Rugby Player of the Year award, while Black Ferns skipper Fiao'o Faamausili has been nominated for the women's award.

Barrett could become the first player to win the award three years in a row after another stellar season in the All Blacks' number 10 jersey, scoring seven tries in his eight tests this year.   

Ioane, the youngest of the nominees at only 21, has found himself on the shortlist for the second year in a row, having also been named the Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2017. The winger is the top scorer in test rugby in 2018, crossing for 11 tries in his eight starts.

The pair have been nominated alongside Springboks duo Faf de Klerk and Malcolm Marx with Irish first-five Johnny Sexton rounding out the nominations.

Dan Carter (2005, 12, 15), Richie McCaw (2006, 09, 10), Kieran Read (2013) and Brodie Rettalick (2014) are all previous New Zealand winners of the award since it was first handed out in 2001.

Faamausili was the only Kiwi women nominated, with France dominating the selections.

Fiao'o Faamausili.
Fiao'o Faamausili. Photo credit: Getty

Captain Gaelle Hermet was joined by teammates Pauline Bourdon, Safi N'Diaye and Jessy Tremouliere on the women's shortlist after their Grand Slam triumph this year.

Monique Hirovanaa (2002), Farah Palmer (2005), Carla Hohepa (2010), Kendra Cocksedge (2015) and Portia Woodman (2017) are all the former Black Ferns who have won the award.

Both shortlists were selected by the star-studded World Rugby Awards panel which comprises Rugby World Cup winners McCaw, John Smit, George Gregan, Maggie Alphonsi and former England coach Clive Woodward alongside Brian O'Driscoll, Fabien Galthiéand and Agustín Pichot

The winners will be revealed at the World Rugby Awards in Monte Carlo on November 26 (NZ time).

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