December World Rugby Awards to Recognize Pandemic Heroes and Stars of the Decade – Canadian Jen Kish on Selection Panel
from World Rugby
– World Rugby Awards to take place in an innovate virtual format on Monday, 7 December, 2020
– Special edition will recognise rugbys front liners who showed great solidarity during the pandemic and honour the best from the last decade of rugby (2010-19)
– Rugby fans around the world to get involved and decide winners in six new categories
– World Rugby Awards panel to elect a mens and womens 15s Dream Team of the Decade in the remaining two categories
– Former England international Maggie Alphonsi and rugby pundit Alex Payne to co-host the online show
A special edition of the World Rugby Awards will take place on 7 December, 2020 to celebrate members of the rugby family who have provided incredible service to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic and players and teams who have starred over the last decade.
With the global pandemic limiting test match activity in 2020, this years Awards will be hosted virtually across World Rugbys digital and social platforms and will not feature the usual celebration of on-field achievements during the calendar year.
Uniquely, the Awards will focus the spotlight on members of the rugby family that showcased great solidarity during the pandemic, supporting their communities, getting involved in relief efforts and showcasing the sports character-building values.
The celebration will also look back at a decade of international rugby and recognise in eight new categories teams and individuals who have inspired players and fans around the world. Bringing the awards closer to fans, winners in six categories will be decided by an online vote open to the public. The remaining two categories will be voted by the World Rugby Awards panel, a stellar team of rugby legends, who choose the annual World Rugby Awards player, team and coach winners.
World Rugby Awards Special Edition eight categories
Fans’ Choice
Mens 15s Player of the Decade in association with Tudor
Womens 15s Player of the Decade in association with Tudor
Mens Sevens Player of the Decade in association with HSBC
Womens Sevens Player of the Decade in association with HSBC
Mens 15s Try of the Decade in association with International Rugby Players
Womens 15s Try of the Decade in association with International Rugby Players
World Rugby Awards Panel Choice
Mens 15s Dream Team of the Decade
Womens 15s Dream Team of the Decade
The event will be co-hosted by former England international and World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Maggie Alphonsi and rugby presenter Alex Payne on Monday, 7 December. The show will be made available for free to rugby fans globally via World Rugby digital channels.
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: We are excited to host our World Rugby Awards in an innovative format this year to acknowledge the exceptional circumstances our sport has gone through in recent months.
The World Rugby Awards Special Edition will embody the core rugby value of solidarity and I am extremely proud to use this platform to recognise efforts made by members of our global rugby family to fight the pandemic.
It will also be a night of celebration with accolades for teams and individuals that have showcased tremendous talent on the field of play over the last decade. I am looking forward to seeing who rugby fans around the world will decide to honour.
Alphonsi added: As our sport carefully begins to restart around the world, it is important to keep celebrating what makes rugby so special: its values, communities and best performers. I am truly honoured to co-host the show with Alex, and I look forward to unveiling the winners to rugby fans from around the world in December.
The list of nominees and details of the online vote for the six Fans’ Choice categories will be unveiled in due course.
THE FOLLOWING PANELS VOTE ON THE RESPECTIVE WORLD RUGBY AWARDS:
World Rugby Mens 15s Player of the Year in association with Mastercard
Maggie Alphonsi (ENG)
Fiona Coghlan (IRE)
Thierry Dusautoir (FRA)
George Gregan (AUS)
Richie McCaw (NZL)
Brian ODriscoll (IRE)
Melodie Robinson (NZL)
John Smit (RSA)
World Rugby Womens 15s Player of the Year in association with Mastercard
Liza Burgess (WAL)
Lynne Cantwell (IRE)
Fiona Coghlan (IRE)
Stephen Jones (The Sunday Times)
Gaëlle Mignot (FRA)
Jillion Potter (USA)
Melodie Robinson (NZL)
Karl Tenana (NZL)
Danielle Waterman (ENG)
World Rugby Team of the Year
Maggie Alphonsi (ENG)
Brian ODriscoll (IRE)
Nick Mallett (RSA)
Clive Woodward (ENG)
World Rugby Coach of the Year
Maggie Alphonsi (ENG)
Brian ODriscoll (IRE)
Nick Mallett (RSA)
Clive Woodward (ENG)
World Rugby Referee Award
Fifteens referee selection panel
Sevens referee selection panel
International Rugby Players Try of the Year panel
Conrad Smith (NZL, Chair)
Jamie Heaslip (IRE)
Fiao’o Faamausili (NZL)
Bryan Habana (RSA)
Thierry Dusautoir (FRA)
World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year in association with TUDOR
Felipe Contepomi (ARG)
Fiao’o Faamausili (NZL)
Bryan Habana (RSA)
Jamie Heaslip (IRE)
World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year in association with HSBC
Humphrey Kayange (KEN)
Jen Kish (CAN)
Tiana Penitani (AUS)
Karl Te Nana (NZL)
Marika Vunibaka (FIJ)
Danielle Waterman (ENG)
World Rugby Mens Sevens Player of the Year in association with HSBC
Humphrey Kayange (KEN)
Jen Kish (CAN)
Tiana Penitani (AUS)
Karl Te Nana (NZL)
Marika Vunibaka (FIJ)
Danielle Waterman (ENG)
Award for Character in association with Land Rover
Bill Beaumont (World Rugby Chairman)
David Carrigy (World Rugby Head of Development and International Relations)
Brett Gosper (World Rugby Chief Executive)
Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service
Bill Beaumont (World Rugby Chairman)
David Carrigy (World Rugby Head of Development and International Relations)
Brett Gosper (World Rugby Chief Executive)
International Rugby Players Special Merit
International Rugby Players representatives