Ardie Savea named men's 15s player of the year at World Rugby awards
Posted : 30 October 2023
New Zealand's Ardie Savea was honored as the men's 15s player of the year at the World Rugby Awards in Paris, and he expressed feeling "very blessed and grateful." Savea, a standout in the All Blacks team, scored three tries during the World Cup in France. He triumphed over tough competition, including Ireland's Bundee Aki, France's Antoine Dupont, and South Africa's Eben Etzebeth. This recognition came a day after New Zealand's narrow 12-11 loss to South Africa in the World Cup final.
Additionally, Andy Farrell, the coach of Ireland, received the award for best coach. Under Farrell's guidance, Ireland reached the top ranking in the world ahead of the tournament, even though they were eliminated by the All Blacks in the quarter-finals. This achievement saw him off competition from coaches like New Zealand's Ian Foster, South Africa's Jacques Nienaber, and Fiji's Simon Raiwalui.
Mark Telea, an All Blacks wing, was named the breakthrough player of the year, following his impressive performance with six tries in nine Tests. The best try of the year was awarded to Duhan van der Merwe for his solo effort during Scotland's Six Nations victory over England at Twickenham in February.
Savea, during the ceremony, expressed his gratitude and highlighted the importance of team performance as the foundation for individual success. He acknowledged his fellow players and the journey they have undertaken together, emphasizing the significance of wearing the All Blacks jersey and giving his best.
The winners of the women's 15s awards will be announced later this year, following the conclusion of the inaugural WXV tournament. The best player prizes in Sevens competition went to Argentina's Rodrigo Isgro and New Zealand's Tyla Nathan-Wong.
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