AFTER A YEAR in which the All Blacks beat all before them, the Kiwis have won again.
Kieran Read has been named IRB player of the year. New Zealand boss Steve Hansen is coach of the year while the All Blacks, unsurprisingly, take the team prize.
28-year-old Read becomes the third All Black to win the award following current international team-mates flanker and captain Richie McCaw (three) and fly-half Dan Carter (two).
He edged out British and Irish Lions and Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny, young South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth, Italy captain Sergio Parisse and All Black team-mate Ben Smith for the award.
“I’d like to congratulate Kieran on his award as it is well deserved,” said Hansen. “He has been outstanding and has been a major contributor all season. It’s been a big year and I am incredibly proud of what the boys have achieved.
“It’s certainly special to have the All Blacks named for all three IRB awards, so it’s important that we thank and acknowledge all those behind the team because it wouldn’t happen without them — the players, our management, the other team behind us at New Zealand Rugby, All Blacks fans around the world, but most importantly, thanks to our families for the love and support that allows us to focus on this great game.”
It was the sixth time in 13 years that a New Zealander had picked up the main award while it was the seventh time both the team and coach were honoured.
For Hansen it was the second year in a row he won the coach award, although that still leaves him a fair way off his predecessor Graham Henry’s five wins.
Former South Africa coach Jake White is the only other coach to have won the award more than once having been picked in 2004 and 2007. South Africa are three-time winners of the team award with Australia, England and France having won once each.
- additional reporting AFP
