Black Ferns take team of year award

IT has not been a vintage year by the All Blacks’ lofty standards but they‚ and New Zealand rugby‚ swept the World Rugby awards in Monte Carlo.

The Black Ferns‚ the New Zealand women’s team‚ made history by becoming the first female team to win the overall “Team of the Year” gong as a reward for winning the Women’s World Cup in Ireland this year.

They beat out England men and the All Blacks for the award.

The All Blacks lost two matches this year – once to the British & Irish Lions and one to Australia‚ while they also drew the third test against the Lions.

It was the first time since 2011 that the All Blacks lost more than one game in a calendar year.

All Black flyhalf Beauden Barrett was named World Player of the Year‚ retaining the crown he won last year.

Barrett became only the second player to win the prestigious award two years in a row‚ matching the achievement of his former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw in 2009-10. Barrett said: “I’m very proud and surprised. “I wanted to be better than last year and I still think I have plenty more to go.

“The Lions series put us under the most pressure I have probably felt in a black jersey and that’s a credit to the Lions.”

Blitzbok playmaker Rosko Specman lost out on the World Sevens Player of the Year award to the USA’s Perry Baker.

The American speedster was the series’ leading try and points-scorer in 2016-17.

England mentor Eddie Jones was named World Coach of the Year after guiding England to nine wins in 10 tests‚ their only blemish coming against Ireland in the Six Nations.

New Zealand winger Portia Woodman was named the World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year after helping the Black Ferns win a fifth Women’s Rugby World Cup title.

All Black wing Rieko Ioane was named World Breakthrough Player of the Year after scoring 10 tries in 11 starts this season.