New Zealand fly-half Beauden Barrett has been named World Rugby Player of the Year, winning the gong for the second successive year.
Barrett has been in excellent form for the Hurricanes and All Blacks and saw off Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, Rieko Ioane and Israel Folau.
"I’m very proud and surprised," said Barrett. "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. We learnt a lot from that series, particularly taking that into the World Cup. When I hang the boots up, that’s when I can look back and be really proud of this. I’ve got to thank my team. I am just one player amongst a great team.”
It was a New Zealand double in the Player of the Year department as Black Ferns wing Portia Woodman picked up the Women's award.
"Obviously just winning the team of the year award shows just how good our team is, and they make me look good; they do all the work and I am out there on the sideline just waiting for the ball," said Woodman. "My mum wasn’t a big fan of me playing rugby, but I think she was going to support me no matter what and, without them (my parents), I obviously wouldn’t be where I am because they pushed me to do everything I can to the best of my ability.”
Elsewhere, England head coach Eddie Jones was announced Coach of the Year while Ioane was the Breakthrough Player of the Year.
The Black Ferns were named World Rugby Team of the Year while the Try of the Year award was won by Argentina back Joaquin Tuculet.
In Sevens, USA wing Perry Baker took the Sevens Player of the Year while Michaela Blyde of the Black Ferns won the Women's award.
Irish official Joy Neville was World Rugby's Referee of the Year, the IRPA Special Merit award went to England's Rachael Burford and All Blacks legend Richie McCaw while Eduardo "Coco" Oderigo won the Award for Character and the late Marcel Martin has been awarded the Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service at the awards ceremony in Monaco.
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