England duo on shortlist

Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje have been nominated for World Rugby’s player of the year award.

The England duo make the shortlist after excelling for the British and Irish Lions in the summer’s drawn Test series with New Zealand.

All Blacks pair Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane and Australia’s Israel Folau complete the contenders, with a new star-studded awards panel making the selections.

Supporters, international captains, coaches and the media will be able to add their voice to the deliberations, before the panel makes the ultimate decisions, with the gongs dished out at World Rugby’s annual awards dinner in Monaco on November 26.

England’s Lydia Thompson has been nominated for World Rugby’s women’s player of the year.