FARRELL AND ITOJE ON SHORTLIST FOR TOP GONG

OWEN FARRELL and Maro Itoje have been nominated for World Rugby’s player of the year award. The England duo are joined on the shortlist by All Blacks pair Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane and Australia’s Israel Folau. England’s Lydia Thompson has been nominated for women’s player of the year award. The winners will be announced in Monaco on November 26.