SEXTON IN HUNT FOR HISTORIC ACCOLADE

JOHNNY SEXTON could become only the second ever Irishman to win the World Rugby Player of the Year award after being included among the five nominees. Keith Wood received the honour in its first year in 2001 — while Sexton, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Paul O’Connell and Jamie Heaslip have all been nominated without ultimate success. Sexton (right) has tough competition for the top spot, as he is measured against All Blacks duo Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane, and South African pair Malcolm Marx and Faf de Klerk. Allthough Barrett has won the last two awards, there is a feeling that Ireland’s No 2 world ranking might help Sexton get the nod. The 33-year-old won a Six Nations Grand Slam, a Champions Cup and PRO 14 double with Leinster and was a key part of Ireland’s Test series win in Australia over the summer. Sexton was previously nominated in 2014.