Ireland big winners at World Rugby Awards

Ireland took home three major awards at the 2018 World Rugby Awards event in Monte Carlo on Sunday. The Six Nations Grand Slam champions earned Team of the Year honors, with flyhalf Jonathan Sexton named Men’s Player of the Year and Joe Schmidt taking home Coach of the Year.

Jessy Tremouliere of France was named Women’s Player of the Year, with New Zealand’s Michaela Blyde the Women’s Sevens Player of the year. The top Referee award went to Australia’s Angus Gardner, with Brodie Retallick’s effort against Australia selected Try of the Year.

Perry Baker was the only Americas representative to win an award, perhaps the only surprise choice having been left out of the HSBC Dream Team for the season. Snubbed entirely was Argentina, whose own star winger Bautista Delguy did not even receive a nomination for Breakthrough Player of the Year.

A complete list of award winners can be see below.

Men’s Player of the Year – Jonathan Sexton (Ireland)
Women’s Player of the Year – Jessy Trémoulière (France)
Team of the Year – Ireland
Coach of the Year – Joe Schmidt (Ireland)
Breakthrough Player of the Year – Aphiwe Dyantyi (South Africa)
Men’s Sevens Player of the Year – Perry Baker (USA)
Women’s Sevens Player of the Year – Michaela Blyde (New Zealand)
Referee Award – Angus Gardner (Australia)
Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service – Yoshiro Mori (Japan)
Award for Character – Doddie Weir (Scotland)
Spirit of Rugby Award – Jamie Armstrong, The Clan (Scotland)
IRP Special Merit Award – Stephen Moore (Australia) and DJ Forbes (New Zealand)
IRP Try of the Year – Brodie Retallick (New Zealand vs Australia)