World Rugby have announced their six nominees for the 2016 Men’s Player of the Year. The shortlist comprises three England players, two New Zealanders and and Irishman. The winner will be announced at the annual awards evening in London on November 13th.
The shortlist features players who have performed at Test level for their countries, so far this year.
The nominees are: Beauden Barrett (New Zealand), Dane Coles (New Zealand), Owen Farrell (England), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), Maro Itoje (England) and Billy Vunipola (England).
They were selected by an independent panel featuring former internationals and members of the media, who deliberated on every major test from the Six Nations through to those on 5 November.
The panel is chaired by Australia’s RWC 1999-winning captain John Eales and comprises former players Will Greenwood, Raphaël Ibanez, Francois Pienaar, Chris Paterson, Agustín Pichot, Scott Quinnell, Tana Umaga and Paul Wallace as well as journalists Pierre Galy (AFP), Stephen Jones (The Sunday Times), Jim Kayes (TV3) and Sergio Stuart (Ole, Argentina).
You can view some of the other award nominations, including the World Rugby Team of the Year, World Rugby Coach of the Year, World Rugby Men’s and Women’s Sevens Players of the Year and World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year, here.
ALSO: The IRPA Try of the Year shortlist
The last five Players of the Year:
2015 – Dan Carter (New Zealand), 2014 – Brodie Retallick (New Zealand), 2013 – Kieran Read (New Zealand), 2012 – Dan Carter (New Zealand), 2011 – Thierry Dusautoir (France)
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