Barrett in line to win award for second time
WELLINGTON: All Black Beauden Barrett could become just the second player to win the World Rugby Player of the Year award two years in a row after he was named in the fiveman shortlist alongside compatriot Rieko Ioane.
England pair Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje and Australia fullback Israel Folau were also nominated for the award.
Barrett capped another impressive season in the All Black No 10 jersey.
The 26yearold finished the Lions series as top pointsscorer with 41.
Compatriot Richie McCaw is the only player to win the award in successive years — 2009 and 2010.
Ioane, the youngest of the Player of the Year award nominees at 20, is also on the shortlist for the Breakthrough Player of the Year award.
England playmaker Farrell, nominated for the second consecutive year, claimed the Euro pean Player of the Year award earlier this year after guiding Saracens to a second straight Champions Cup title.
He started the three tests on the British Lions tour of New Zealand, recording 31 points in the drawn series.
Itoje, the 2016 Breakthrough Player of the Year, offered versatility with his solid performances for England and the Lions this year.
Freescoring fullback Folau recorded 12 tries for the Wallabies in 10 tests, failing to cross the line in only two matches.
Kelly Brazier and Portia Wood man were nominated for the Women’s Player of the Year award on the back of the Black Ferns’ World Cup triumph earlier this year.
They were joined by France’s Romane Menager and Safi N’Diaye as Les Bleus came away with the bronze medal at the world event.
England winger Lydia Thompson completes the shortlist, having scored 12 tries in 10 matches, including two in their World Cup final loss to the Black Ferns.
The awards will be presented in Monte Carlo on November. 26. — Reuters