All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick has been named the 2014 World Rugby Player of the Year.
The 23-year-old is the fourth New Zealander to win the award following Kieran Read (2013), Dan Carter (2005 and 2012) and Richie McCaw (2006, 2009 and 2010).
Retallick edged out Springbok No 8 Duane Vermeulen and fullback Willie le Roux, All Blacks wing Julian Savea and Ireland flyhalf Jonathan Sexton.
The accolade completes a hat-trick of awards for New Zealand, as the All Blacks were named World Rugby Team of the Year for the eighth time and Steve Hansen the World Rugby Coach of the Year for the third year in succession.
All three of these awards are selected by an independent panel of judges, chaired by Australia's 1999 World Cup-winning captain John Eales and also comprising Will Greenwood, Gavin Hastings, Raphaël Ibanez, Francois Pienaar, Agustín Pichot, Scott Quinnell, Tana Umaga and Paul Wallace. The panel deliberated on every major Test played in 2014, starting with the opening Six Nations match and culminating with the November internationals.
Photo: Matt Roberts/Getty Images
