World Rugby Awards 2015

The awards were held in London on Monday.

Well done to all of the winners, who were:

Team: New Zealand

Player: Dan Carter (NZ)

Coach: Michael Cheika (Australia)

Try: Julian Savea (NZ) v France, RWC quarter-final:



Breakthrough player: Nehe Milner-Skudder (NZ)

Women’s player: Kendra Cocksedge (NZ)

Men’s sevens player: Werner Kok (South Africa)

Women’s sevens player: Portia Woodman (NZ)

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

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Glad Cheika won it. When he started, the Wallabies were No 6 in the world. Now they are at No 2. In 2015, he won the Rugby Championship and then took Australia into the World Cup final. The Wallabies won 10 of their 12 Tests in 2015, only losing to the All Blacks. He was also smart enough to push through the change of eligibility laws this year, bringing France-based players Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell back into the fold as well as allowing Dean Mumm and Kane Douglas to join the World Cup squad after signing with Super Rugby franchises for 2016.

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Just to put the awards in context:

PAST PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

2015 - Dan Carter (NZ)

2014 - Brodie Retallick (NZ)

2013 - Kieran Read (NZ)

2012 - Dan Carter (NZ)

2011 - Thierry Dusautoir (France)

2010 - Richie McCaw (NZ)

2009 - Richie McCaw (NZ)

2008 - Shane Williams (Wales)

2007 - Bryan Habana (South Africa)

2006 - Richie McCaw (NZ)

2005 - Dan Carter (NZ)

2004 - Schalk Burger (South Africa)

2003 - Jonny Wilkinson (England)

2002 - Fabien Galthie (France)

2001 - Keith Wood (Ireland)

PAST COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

2015 - Michael Cheika (Australia)

2014 - Steve Hansen (NZ)

2013 - Steve Hansen (NZ)

2012 - Steve Hansen (NZ)

2011 - Graham Henry (NZ)

2010 - Graham Henry (NZ)

2009 - Declan Kidney (Ireland)

2008 - Graham Henry (NZ)

2007 - Jake White (South Africa)

2006 - Graham Henry (NZ)

2005 - Graham Henry (NZ)

2004 - Jake White (South Africa)

2003 - Clive Woodward (England)

2002 - Bernard Laporte (France)

2001 - Rod Macqueen (Australia)

PAST TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

2015 - New Zealand

2014 - New Zealand

2013 - New Zealand

2012 - New Zealand

2011 - New Zealand

2010 - New Zealand

2009 - South Africa

2008 - New Zealand

2007 - South Africa

2006 - New Zealand

2005 - New Zealand

2004 - South Africa

2003 - England

2002 - France

2001 - Australia

#justiceforlaidlaw

RDW_Scotland wrote:#justiceforlaidlaw

Laidlaw was always going to be up against it unless there was a secret positive discrimination campaign by World Rugby to favour pale blue midgets who have recently returned from Mordor.  

It's Bennett that I feel sorry for as I actually thought he deserved the Breakthrough Player award on merit. To paraphrase FES' earlier remarks, an old, rusty birdcage would look good on the wing playing for this New Zealand side. Bennett has to contend with the rest of his colleagues having prolongued periods of rubbishness (20 years and counting at the moment).

Milner-Skudder has been absolutely sensational though, and there was no way it was going to be anyone but him.

A real boost for Bennett though just to be nominated!

Agreed, RDW, but it would have been worth winning just to see ASBO come back here to gloat share the love.

I am just guessing that the SH dominance from the winners rendered this whole thing of minimal interest to regular users of these boards?

George Carlin wrote:
Breakthrough player: Nehe Milner-Skudder (NZ)

Women’s player: Kendra Cocksedge (NZ)

Men’s sevens player: Werner Kok (South Africa)

Women’s sevens player: Portia Woodman (NZ)

Snigger....

George Carlin wrote:I am just guessing that the SH dominance from the winners rendered this whole thing of minimal interest to regular users of these boards?

it's probably also down to the lack of controversy in those awards... although ..Owens for referee of the year ? pfff c'mon #justice4Garces!

Anybody know about these eligibility laws that Cheika managed to change this year. Are they the same ones for say Armitage and Habana? Are they laws at all?

Dontheman2 wrote:Anybody know about these eligibility laws that  Cheika managed to change this year.  Are they the same ones for say Armitage and  Habana? Are they laws at all?

No laws. Just rules/guidelines which are set by each respective Union.

Lancaster was at liberty to select Armitage - the RFU gives him that discretion in exceptional circumstances. He chose not to.