SA TRIO WIN WORLD RUGBY AWARDS

International rugby recognises players and referee

BLITZBOK star Seabelo Senatla became the third South African to be crowned World Sevens Player of the Year when he received the 2016 gong at an awards ceremony in London.

Senatla‚ who has been the leading try-scorer for the past two seasons on the HSBC World Sevens Series‚ follows Werner Kok (2015) and Cecil Afrika (2011) as South African winners of the prestigious award.

Senatla scored 66 tries in 10 events in the 2015 –16 series – the second highest in the 17-year history of the event – and four at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers received the Special Merit Award from the International Rugby Players’ Association (IRPA) on Sunday night.

South African referee Rasta Rasivhenge was joint winner of the World Referee Award with Spain’s Alhambra Nievas.

Flyhalf Beauden Barrett became the fifth All Blacks player in succession to win the World Player of the Year following Daniel Carter (2012 and 2015)‚ Kieran Read (2013) and Brodie Retallick (2014).

“It’s a by-product of a couple of great teams I have been a part of this year – the Hurricanes and the All Blacks,” Barrett said.

“I have to thank the coaches and my teammates around me because without them I wouldn’t be here.”

England’s Sarah Hunter was named Women’s Player of the Year, while England forward Maro Itoje was named Breakthrough Player of the Year. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen was unsurprisingly named Coach of the Year after leading his side to the 2015 World Cup title and a run of 18 consecutive test wins.

The All Blacks were awarded the Team of the Year prize.

The winners:

Men’s Player of the Year – Beauden Barrett (NZL) Women’s Player of the Year – Sarah Hunter (ENG) Team of the Year – New Zealand Coach of the Year – Steve Hansen (NZL) Breakthrough Player of the Year – Maro Itoje (ENG) Men’s Sevens Player of the Year – Seabelo Senatla (SA) Women’s Sevens Player of the Year – Charlotte Caslick (AUS) Referee Award – Alhambra Nievas (ESP) and Rasta Rasivhenge (SA) Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service – Syd Millar Award for Character – Rugby Opens Borders, Austria IRPA Special Merit Award – Jean de Villiers (SA) IRPA Try of the Year – Jamie Heaslip (IRL) against Italy in the Six Nations Olympic recognition – Fiji and Australia