How previous World Cup U-20 players of the year fared

2009 – Aaron Cruden (New Zealand): The out-half represented the All Blacks 50 times but injury denied him a leading role in the 2011 and 2015 World Cup wins. Now one of the world’s best-paid players at Montpellier.

2010 – Julian Savea (New Zealand): ‘The Bus’ was a star on the All Black team that reclaimed the World Cup a year after his U-20 crown and was again a leading light in 2015. After 54 caps and 46 tries he moved to Toulon.

2011 – George Ford (England): Ford saw off Sam Cane and Luke Whitelock to win the gong. He has 50 caps but is behind Owen Farrell in the England No 10 pecking order.

2012 – Jan Serfontein (South Africa): A star man as the Baby Boks recovered from their early defeat to Ireland to win their home tournament, centre Serfontein won 35 caps for the senior side before joining Montpellier in 2017.

2013 – Sam Davies (Wales): A regular starter with Ospreys, Davies struggled to come out from beneath Dan Biggar’s shadow. Collected eight senior caps in 2016 and 2017.

2014 – Handre Pollard (South Africa): Pollard was the Springboks’ No 10 at the 2015 World Cup and after a period out with injury, he has returned to Rassie Erasmus’s team.

2015 – James Chisholm (England): Flanker Chisholm is a regular with Harlequins and has played for England Saxons but has yet to earn a senior cap.

2016 – Max Deegan (Ireland): Ireland’s only winner has played 29 times for Leinster but has yet to be called up to the international squad, unlike a number of his team-mates who reached the final in Manchester.

2017 – Jarno Augustus (South Africa) No 8 followed up his award by making the breakthrough at Western Province and the Stormers.

2018 – Jordan Joseph (France): Just 17 when he won the award, the back-row is already part of the first-team plans at Racing despite being underage again this season.