28/11/2005
IRB.com
A fantastic year for New Zealand rugby has been topped off with a range of awards at the IRB Awards in Paris. All Black first five-eighths Daniel Carter was named IRB Player of the Year, the All Blacks were named Team of the Year and coach Graham Henry picked up the Coach of the Year award. All Black Isaia Toeava was named Under 19 player of the year, Orene Ai’i Sevens player of the year and Farah Palmer IRB International Women's Personality of the Year. The All Blacks have been the outstanding team in 2005 having won 11 of their 12 Test matches. In June they were too strong for the British and Irish Lions winning the series three Tests to none. They are the reigning Philips Tri Nations Champions and completed the Grand Slam tour of the UK and Ireland to finish the year at number one in the IRB World Rankings. At the helm of the team has been Canterbury’s Daniel Carter who has played at a consistently high level throughout the year. “Over the last 12 months, Dan has made an outstanding transition from the centres to first five-eighth. He has played some exceptional games and he’s also a high percentage goal-kicker”, said his coach Graham Henry. Henry, who has masterminded the All Blacks’ success after stints with Wales and the British Lions, added, “We’ve been very fortunate to have a chance at history this year. To win the New Zealand versus Lions Series, a Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations Series, and then have a shot at a Grand Slam is very special. The players and management deserve credit for that.” Other nominees for Player of the Year were fellow All Black team mates Richie McCaw and skipper Tana Umaga, and Springbok duo Victor Matfield and Brian Habana. New Zealand beat 2005 Six Nations Grand Slam Champions winners Wales for the team title while Henry pipped Wales’ Mike Ruddock for the Coach of the Year. The prestigious ceremony at Pavillon d'Armenonville was attended by some of the great names of rugby's past and present including IRB Awards panellists Gavin Hastings, Michael Jones, Fabien Galthie and John Eales, British Lions Manager Bill Beaumont and former All Black captain Colin Meads. The IRB Awards also recognise the future stars of the Game and Australia’s Tatafu Polota-Nau, who was one of the leading players at the 2005 IRB Under 21 World Championship, was named IRB Under 21 Player of the Year. He went on to make his Test debut as a replacement hooker against England in November. IRB Under 19 Player of the Year, All Black Isaia Toeava of New Zealand, made his Test debut against Scotland at the weekend. The award for IRB Sevens Team of the Year went to 2005 Sevens Rugby World Cup Champions Fiji, which also won the World Games in Germany. The Sevens Player of the Year was New Zealand’s Orene Ai’i who spearheaded his side’s march to another IRB Sevens series title in 2005. IRB International Women's Personality of the Year, Black Ferns hooker Farah Palmer, has won two Women’s Rugby World Cups as captain, has a Doctorate in Physical Education and lectures in sports management. The Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished service went to former Wallaby Peter Crittle. Following his playing career as a Wallaby between 1962 and 1967 he went on to become a prominent administrator in Australian rugby. The IRB Chairman’s Award was presented to Sir Tasker Watkins V.C, G.B.E., D.L. in recognition of his distinguished career as a rugby administrator. Sir Tasker served a record 11 years as President of the Welsh Rugby Union, was knighted in 1971 and is currently the Union’s Honorary Vice Life Patron. Robert Antonin was awarded the IRB Development Award in recognition of his work in developing rugby throughout the world. A former coach, IRB Regional Development Manager and National Technical Director of the French Rugby Federation his expertise has been sought all over the world from Argentina to Romania where he is now working within the Romanian Rugby Federation. Former French forward, the enigmatic Jean Pierre Rives was presented with the Spirit of Rugby Award. The blonde haired flanker became synonymous with spirit and courage on the field in the 1970s and was widely admired outside France. These days he is better known as a sculptor but to this day he is still one France’s most capped flankers with 59 appearances. He was captain of France on 34 occasions. List of Award winners IRB International Player of the Year: Daniel Carter (New Zealand) IRB International Team of the Year: New Zealand IRB International Coach of the Year: Graham Henry (New Zealand) IRB International U19 Player of the Year: Isaia Toeava (New Zealand) IRB International U21 Player of the Year: Tatafu Polota-Nau (Australia) IRB International Sevens Team of the Year: Fiji IRB International Sevens Player of the Year: Orene Ai’i (New Zealand) Spirit of Rugby Award: Jean Pierre Rives Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Peter Crittle IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Paddy O’Brien IRB International Women's Personality of the Year: Farah Palmer IRB Development Award: Robert Antonin IRB Chairman's Award: Sir Tasker Watkins V.C., G.B.E, D.L |
No comments:
Post a Comment