England trio up for World Player of the Year

ENGLAND’S so far ar unbeaten year under Australian coach Eddie Jones was recognised on Monday with three internationals from m Saracens providing 50 percent of the nominees for the 2016 World Rugby Player of thee Year award.

G o a l - k i c k e r O w e n Fa r r e l l (pictured, AFP), No 8 Bi l ly Vuni- p o l a a nd lock Maro Itoje oje were on a short list t hat a lso included New Zealand’s Beauden n Barrett and Dane Cole and Ireland eland back-row Jamie Heaslip.

The Saracens trioo helped the London club win the English Premiership and European uropean Champions Cup titles. tles.

They a lso playedd key roles as England wonon t hei r f i r s t n i ne Tests under Jones – appointed after t he host s’ emba r ra ssi ng f i r s t-r ou nd e x it at l a s t yea year’s World Cup. England’s unbeaten run included a Six Nations Grand Slam and a 3-0 series win in Australia. The currently injured I Itoje, 22, had already been nominated for the “breakthrough” player of the year award. Ba r r e t t h a d t h e u n e n v i a b l e t a s k o f re replacing fly-half great Dan C Carter as the All Blacks’ No 10 afte after the latter’s Test retirement followi following New Zealand’s 2015 World Cup triu triumph. But the attackingattac Barrett filled the gap as New ZealandZe extended their unbeaten run to 18 Tests – a world record for a leading rugby union nation.

Dynamic hooker Coles, often seen finishing off moves on the wing, also played his part in a brilliant winning streak that only ended on Saturday with Ireland’s stunning 40-29 win over the All Blacks in Chicago.

Experienced No8 Heaslip was once more the link man between the pack a nd t he backs as Irela nd beat New Zealand for t he f irst time in 111 years of t r y ing.

At 33, he is the oldest of this year’s nominees, having been on the shortlist in 2009 when the award was won by New Zealand great Richie McCaw.

The six players were chosen by a panel chaired by Australia’s 1999 World Cup-winning captain John Eales and featuring former internationals Will Greenwood (England), Raphael Ibanez (France), Francois Pienaar (South Africa), Chris Paterson (Scotland), Agustín Pichot (Argentina), Scott Quinnell ( Wales), Tana Umaga (New Zealand) and Paul Wallace (Ireland) as well as experienced rugby journalists.

“There is class in abundance with New Zealand’s Barrett and Coles, England’s Vunipola, Itoje and Farrell and Ireland’s Heaslip,” said World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont.

The nominees for the equivalent Women’s Player of the Year award announced Monday were Fiao’o Fa’amausili (New Zealand), Sarah Hunter (England) and Gaëlle Mignot (France).

“With Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 just around the corner it is great to see such strong competition for the women’s award,” said former lock Beaumont.

Both trophies will be presented at the will be presented at the World Rugby Awards at London’s Hilton Metropole hotel on Sunday.

New Zealand, England and Fiji Sevens had all previously been nominated for the team of the year, with their respective coaches – Steve Hansen, Jones and Englishman Ben Ryan all vying for the coach of the year title.