Ireland have capped the greatest year in their rugby history by sweeping the board at the World Rugby awards in Monaco.
Ireland has won the World Rugby Team of the Year Award.
Johnny Sexton became the first Irishman to win the men's player of the year award since Keith Wood in 2001.
A speechless Johnny Sexton gets a helping hand from Rory Best as he receives the World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year 2018 Award in Association with Mastercard #WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/yveN4gROHh
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 25, 2018
It is the first time in seven years that the award has gone to a player from outside of New Zealand.
33-year-old fly‑half, Sexton fought off competition from All Black duo Rieko Ioane and Beauden Barrett, who was looking to collect the award for the third straight time.
South Africans Malcolm Marx and Faf de Klerk were also nominated.
Sexton's remarkable year at club and international level saw him win three major competitions, the Pro14, Champions Cup and the Six Nations.
Ireland's only defeat this year came in their first Test against Australia in June, a game for which Sexton was rested following a busy end of season schedule with Leinster.
The fly‑half returned for the next two Tests and guided Ireland to a first series win in Australia for 39 years.
Sexton's drop goal against France gave Ireland a dramatic win in the opening game of their Grand Slam‑winning Six Nations campaign.
Sexton says if a number 10 wins an award like this it is due to the team around his.
Ireland’s Coach, Joe Schmidt has won coach of the year award.
Peter O'Mahony accepts the World Rugby Coach of the Year 2018 Award on behalf of Joe Schmidt #WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/vba2KtQRGZ
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 25, 2018
A historic home win over the All Blacks was the highlight of an undefeated autumn international series for Schmidt's side, who have cemented their position as the best team in the northern hemisphere.
Meanwhile, Perry Baker is the World Rugby 7s Player of the Year.
Congratulations to Perry Baker who has won the World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year 2018 award in association with @HSBC_Sport #WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/Oi7HVzVDRj
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) November 25, 2018
He was nominated alongside Fiji’s Jerry Tuwai and Australia’s Ben O’Donnell.
The Breakthrough Player of Year was South Africa’s wing Aphiwe Dyanti.
Congratulations to Aphiwe Dyanti of @Springboks who has picked up the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year 2018 award in association with Tudor #WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/4Nq4TfpQ9D
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 25, 2018
Michaela Blyde of New Zealand is the World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year.
Congratulations to Michaela Blyde who has won the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year 2018 award in association with @HSBC_Sport, for the second year in a row! #WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/3YRTQW3vep
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) November 25, 2018
Former Wallabies captain Stephen Moore and former All Blacks 7s captain DJ Forbes received the International Rugby Players Special Merit Award.
Congratulations to Stephen Moore and DJ Forbes who have received the @IntRugbyPlayers Special Merit Award #WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/W4ZP3CML8r
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 25, 2018
The award for try of year has been given to Brodie Retallick. We have a video of that try on our website fijivillage.com.
[Source: BBC Sports]
