Rugby award ‘a sign of things to come’

New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Tew says the Black Ferns have earned their world rugby recognition becoming the first women’s team to be crowned World Rugby Team of the Year.

Chief Executive Tew congratulated the Black Ferns on their historic success as well as the individual efforts of star Black Fern Portia Woodmanand All Blacks Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane who received awards.

Earlier yesterday Beauden Barrett, 26, was named World Rugby’s player of the year for the second straight season at the World Rugby Awards in Monaco.

His success came as New Zealand women cleaned up in their awards, with the Black Ferns winning team of the year, Portia Woodman winning women’s player of the year and Michaela Blyde winning women’s sevens player of the year.

Having won the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2017, New Zealand’s Black Ferns edged the likes of England’s men for the team of the year award.

‘‘The Black Ferns have earned their place as the world’s best team - and to be the first women’s team to win team of the year is a fitting tribute to their talent, dedication and hard work,’’ Tew said.

‘‘This has been an outstanding year for our women’s rugby teams, and the international recognition that our players and teams have received is totally deserved.

‘‘The Black Ferns’ win of the Women’s World Cup was a truly inspiration effort, and the final against England was one of the most exciting games of rugby I’ve seen.

‘‘I know that their success will lead to the continued growth of the women’s game and I look forward to seeing more women and girls follow in the footsteps of this outstanding Black Ferns team.

‘‘I congratulate Portia Woodman for winning Women’s

Player of the Year. ‘‘

Rieko Ioane won World Rugby’s breakthrough player of the year award. Tew said Ioane has been a revelation to the All Blacks this year.

‘‘For someone so young he has demonstrated a calm head and huge degree of maturity in his game, which has gone from strength to strength. He’s been a try-scoring machine, dotting down 10 times this year in 11 tests.’’

Asked what he would need to do to continue his stunning form in 2018 and beyond, Ioane said he simply needed to ‘‘trust the process’’.

England coach Eddie Jones beat Steve Hansen and Warren Gatland to win the coach of the year award, while

Richie McCaw won the International Rugby Players Association special merit award.

The award is given to showcase McCaw’s continued services to rugby and his charity work since retirement.

The women’s sevens player of the year award was given to New Zealand Women’s Sevens team flier Michaela Blyde. The Bay of Plenty winger scored 40 tries during the World Series. She pipped teammate Ruby Tui for the award.