• Ireland win big three World Rugby awards

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    Ireland flyhalf Johnny Sexton won the 2018 World Rugby Player of the Year award at Sunday night’s ceremony in Monaco.

    Sexton saw off the challenge of All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett, who won the award in 2016 and 2017, Bok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, All Blacks wing Rieko Ioane and Bok hooker Malcolm Marx.

    The 33-year-old is the first Irishman to win the award since hooker Keith Wood claimed the inaugural accolade in 2001.

    In 2018, Sexton won the Six Nations with Ireland and both the European Champions Cup and Pro14 with Leinster. While he was unable to make an acceptance speech at the awards ceremony in Monaco, having lost his voice, Ireland captain Rory Best read a statement on his behalf.

    ‘Thank you to my teammates and coaches. If a No 10 wins an award like this, it is due to the team around him and his coaches making his job easier. We have some of the best coaches in the world and are led superbly by Rory Best.

    ‘I’d also like to thank my wife Laura who has been with me from the start. We’ve three young kids and she does absolutely everything to allow me to concentrate on the day job. I wouldn’t have been able to have the season I’ve had without her.

    ‘Thank you so much, it is an incredible honour. I look at the other nominees and I admire all of them. Any of them would have been a worthy winner.’

    WATCH: 2018 World Rugby Awards

    Ireland were named Team of the Year after winning 11 of their 12 Tests in 2018. They claimed a Six Nations Grand Slam, achieved a first Test series win in Australia since 1979, and recently beat the All Blacks on Irish soil for the first time in 113 years of trying.

    Ireland coach Joe Schmidt was named Coach of the Year.

    Springbok wing Aphiwe Dyantyi won the Breakthrough Player of the Year award, for which Ireland wing Jordan Larmour and All Blacks prop Karl Tu’inukuafe were also nominated.

    ‘I’m still shaking a bit, from disbelief,’ he said after the ceremony. ‘I was honoured just to be nominated. I’ve always watched other people get these accolades and never imagined I’d be the one sitting here right now.’

    ALSO READ: Dyantyi wins World Rugby award

    Fullback Jessy Trémoulière became the first French recipient of the World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year award, having helped Les Bleues win the Six Nations Grand Slam. She received the award ahead of four other nominees in France teammates Gaëlle Hermet, Safi N’Diaye and Pauline Bourdon and New Zealand captain Fiao’o Faamausili.

    ‘Last year was frustrating because I was injured and I felt I was missing something to be at the top of my game, but I had this feeling that I wanted to be the best player in the world and now it is a reality and it is just fabulous,’ said Trémoulière. ‘So many people have supported me over the years and I want to thank all of them.’

    USA speedster Perry Baker was named Men’s Sevens Player of the Year, with New Zealand’s Michaela Blyde winning the women’s award.

    2018 World Rugby Awards winners:

    World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year: Johnny Sexton (Ireland)

    World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year: Jessy Trémoulière (France)

    World Rugby Team of the Year: Ireland

    World Rugby Coach of the Year: Joe Schmidt (Ireland)

    World Rugby Referee of the Year: Angus Gardner (Australia)

    International Rugby Players Try of the Year: Brodie Retallick (All Blacks)

    World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year: Aphiwe Dyanti (Springboks)

    World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year: Perry Baker (USA)

    World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year: Michaela Blyde (New Zealand)

    International Rugby Players Special Merit Award: Stephen Moore & DJ Forbes

    Spirit of Rugby Award: Jamie Armstrong and The Clan

    Award for Character: Doddie Weir

    Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Yoshirō Mori

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    SA Rugby magazine