LAST UPDATE | 14 Nov 2022
IRELAND CAPTAIN JOHNNY Sexton and flanker Josh van der Flier have both been shortlisted for the 2022 World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year award.
The two Ireland internationals have been named on a four-man shortlist alongside France scrum-half Antoine Dupont and South Africa centre Lukhanyo Am.
Sexton previously won the award in 2018, when he become just the second Irishman to land the prize, following Keith Wood in 2001. The 37-year-old has enjoyed another superb year in the green jersey, playing a starring role in the summer series win in New Zealand.
His Leinster teammate Van der Flier has also been a mainstay in Andy Farrell’s side. He was named 2022 EPCR European Player of the Year following his performances for Leinster in the Champions Cup, and recently added the Players’ Player of the Year and Rugby Writers’ Player of the Year awards to his collection.
Lukhanyo Am
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 14, 2022
Antoine Dupont
Johnny Sexton
Josh van der Flier
The nominees for the 2022 World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year in partnership with @Mastercard 🏆#WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/JyXDHXl2Z6
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has been shortlisted for the prestigious World Rugby Coach of the Year award, a prize won by Farrell’s predecessor, Joe Schmidt.
In addition, two Irish players – Mack Hansen and Dan Sheehan – have made the four-person shortlist for the World Rugby Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year.
Hansen and Sheehan will discover whether they are successful tomorrow whereas the other award winners will find out at a special ceremony in Monaco this Sunday.
Hansen’s nomination is no surprise after his superb impact for Ireland this year, scoring an unforgettable try against France at the Stade de France, following that up with crucial scores against South Africa and Fiji in recent weeks.
Sheehan, meanwhile, has become a key member of Ireland’s pack following Ronan Kelleher’s injury. He excelled in New Zealand, where Farrell sealed his nomination by securing a first ever away series win for Ireland against the All Blacks.
Breaking through in '22 😤
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 14, 2022
These are the contenders for the 2022 Breakthrough Player of the Year in partnership with Tudor#WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/bcX8wi1ptt
Italy full-back Ange Capuozzo, who scored twice on his debut and then set up the match-winning try as the Azzurri secured a first win against Wales in 15 years, is competing with Hansen and Sheehan for the breakthrough prize alongside England’s Henry Arundell.
Meanwhile, Fabien Galthié, England Women’s Coach, Simon Middleton and New Zealand Women’s coach, Wayne Smith, join Farrell on the coach of the year shortlist.
Smith led the Black Ferns to a sixth Rugby World Cup triumph, and first on home soil, beating England in this weekend’s final.
Under Middleton’s guidance, the Red Roses had put together a world-record 30-match winning run until that defeat, completing a fourth successive Women’s Six Nations clean sweep along the way.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s Terry Kennedy has been nominated for the Men’s Sevens Player of the Year award, with Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe on the four-player shortlist for Women’s Sevens Player of the Year.
Updated at 6.55pm to include World Player of the Year nominees.
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