# World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year

The World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year is an award presented annually by World Rugby at the World Rugby Awards. It is given to honour "the achievements of those involved at the highest level of the world game on the field". First presented in 2001, it was initially named the IRB International Player of the Year; from 2007 until 2014 it was the IRB Player of the Year and in 2014 it was titled World Rugby Player of the Year, before being given its current name in 2016.
The winner receives a trophy at an annual awards ceremony. The voting panel select a list of nominees who can then be voted for by players, coaches, media representatives and the public via Twitter. Informed by the vote, the panel then select the winner. as of 2021 the voting panel comprises John Smit, George Gregan, Melodie Robinson, Maggie Alphonsi, Clive Woodward, Brian O'Driscoll, Richie McCaw, Thierry Dusautoir and Fiona Coghlan.
The first winner of the award was Ireland hooker Keith Wood. The winner for 2024 was South Africa Pieter-Steph du Toit. New Zealand players have received the most awards, winning ten times. Two players have won three times – flanker Richie McCaw (2006, 2009 and 2010) and fly-half Dan Carter (2005, 2012 and 2015). Nominations for the award are dominated by players from Tier 1 nations; only United States' Joe Taufete'e has ever been nominated from a Tier 2 side. Fly-halves have won the award most often, with seven wins, followed by flankers with six.

## Winners and nominees

Winners and nominees of the World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year :
| Year | Image | Winner | Country | Position | Other nominees |
| 2001 | | Keith Wood | Ireland | Hooker | Australia – George Gregan (Scrum-half) Australia – George Smith (Flanker) England – Jonny Wilkinson (Fly-half) Ireland – Brian O'Driscoll (Centre) |
| 2002 | | Fabien Galthié | France | Scrum-half | England – Jason Robinson (Wing) Ireland – Brian O'Driscoll (Centre) New Zealand – Richie McCaw (Flanker) South Africa – Joe van Niekerk (Flanker) |
| 2003 | | Jonny Wilkinson | England | Fly-half | Australia – Phil Waugh (Flanker) England – Steve Thompson (Hooker) France – Imanol Harinordoquy (Number 8) New Zealand – Richie McCaw (Flanker) |
| 2004 | | Schalk Burger | South Africa | Flanker | Australia – Matt Giteau (Centre) France – Serge Betsen (Flanker) Ireland – Gordon D'Arcy (Centre) South Africa – Marius Joubert (Centre) |
| 2005 | | Dan Carter | New Zealand | Fly-half | New Zealand – Richie McCaw (Flanker) New Zealand – Tana Umaga (Centre) South Africa – Bryan Habana (Wing) South Africa – Victor Matfield (Lock) |
| 2006 | | Richie McCaw | New Zealand | Flanker | Australia – Chris Latham (Full-back) Ireland – Paul O'Connell (Lock) New Zealand – Dan Carter (Fly-half) South Africa – Fourie du Preez (Scrum-half) |
| 2007 | | Bryan Habana | South Africa | Wing | Argentina – Felipe Contepomi (Centre) Argentina – Juan Martín Hernández (Fly-half) France – Yannick Jauzion (Centre) New Zealand – Richie McCaw (Flanker) |
| 2008 | | Shane Williams | Wales | Wing | Italy – Sergio Parisse (Number 8) New Zealand – Dan Carter (Fly-half) Scotland – Mike Blair (Scrum-half) Wales – Ryan Jones (Number 8) |
| 2009 | | Richie McCaw | New Zealand | Flanker | Australia – Matt Giteau (Fly-half) England – Tom Croft (Flanker) Ireland – Jamie Heaslip (Number 8) Ireland – Brian O'Driscoll (Centre) South Africa – Fourie du Preez (Scrum-half) South Africa – François Steyn (Centre) |
| 2010 | | Richie McCaw | New Zealand | Flanker | Australia – Kurtley Beale (Centre) Australia – David Pocock (Flanker) France – Imanol Harinordoquy (Number 8) New Zealand – Mils Muliaina (Full-back) South Africa – Victor Matfield (Lock) |
| 2011 | | Thierry Dusautoir | France | Flanker | Australia – Will Genia (Scrum-half) Australia – David Pocock (Flanker) New Zealand – Jerome Kaino (Flanker) New Zealand – Ma'a Nonu (Centre) New Zealand – Piri Weepu (Scrum-half) |
| 2012 | | Dan Carter | New Zealand | Fly-half | England – Owen Farrell (Fly-half) France – Frédéric Michalak (Fly-half) New Zealand – Richie McCaw (Flanker) |
| 2013 | | Kieran Read | New Zealand | Number 8 | Italy – Sergio Parisse (Number 8) New Zealand – Ben Smith (Full-back) South Africa – Eben Etzebeth (Lock) Wales – Leigh Halfpenny (Full-back) |
| 2014 | | Brodie Retallick | New Zealand | Lock | Ireland – Johnny Sexton (Fly-half) New Zealand – Julian Savea (Wing) South Africa – Willie le Roux (Full-back) South Africa – Duane Vermeulen (Number 8) |
| 2015 | | Dan Carter | New Zealand | Fly-half | Australia – Michael Hooper (Flanker) Australia – David Pocock (Flanker) New Zealand – Julian Savea (Wing) Scotland – Greig Laidlaw (Scrum-half) Wales – Alun Wyn Jones (Lock) |
| 2016 | | Beauden Barrett | New Zealand | Fly-half | England – Owen Farrell (Fly-half) England – Maro Itoje (Lock) England – Billy Vunipola (Number 8) Ireland – Jamie Heaslip (Number 8) New Zealand – Dane Coles (Hooker) |
| 2017 | | Beauden Barrett | New Zealand | Fly-half | Australia – Israel Folau (Full-back) England – Owen Farrell (Fly-half) England – Maro Itoje (Lock) New Zealand – Rieko Ioane (Wing) |
| 2018 | | Johnny Sexton | Ireland | Fly-half | New Zealand – Beauden Barrett (Fly-half) New Zealand – Rieko Ioane (Wing) South Africa – Faf de Klerk (Scrum-half) South Africa – Malcolm Marx (Hooker) |
| 2019 | | Pieter-Steph du Toit | South Africa | Flanker | England – Tom Curry (Flanker) New Zealand – Ardie Savea (Flanker) South Africa – Cheslin Kolbe (Wing) United States – Joe Taufete'e (Hooker) Wales – Alun Wyn Jones (Lock) |
| 2020 | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Not Awarded |
| 2021 | | Antoine Dupont | France | Scrum-half | Australia – Michael Hooper (Flanker) England – Maro Itoje (Lock) Australia – Samu Kerevi (Centre) |
| 2022 | | Josh van der Flier | Ireland | Flanker | South Africa – Lukhanyo Am (Centre) France – Antoine Dupont (Scrum-half) Ireland – Johnny Sexton (Fly-half) |
| 2023 | | Ardie Savea | New Zealand | Number 8 | South Africa – Eben Etzebeth (Lock) France – Antoine Dupont (Scrum-half) Ireland – Bundee Aki (Centre) |
| 2024 | | Pieter-Steph du Toit | South Africa | Flanker | Ireland – Caelan Doris (Number 8 South Africa – Eben Etzebeth (Lock) South Africa – Cheslin Kolbe (Wing) |

## Statistics

    Correct as of the 2024 nominations
Multiple wins :
| 3 | Dan Carter | New Zealand |
| 3 | Richie McCaw | New Zealand |
| 2 | Beauden Barrett | New Zealand |
| 2 | Pieter-Steph du Toit | South Africa |
Wins by position :
| 7 | Fly-half |
| 7 | Flanker |
| 2 | Scrum-half |
| 2 | Wing |
| 2 | Number 8 |
| 1 | Hooker |
| 1 | Lock |
Multiple nominations including wins :
| 8 | Richie McCaw | New Zealand |
| 5 | Dan Carter | New Zealand |
| 3 | Beauden Barrett | New Zealand |
| 3 | Antoine Dupont | France |
| 3 | Eben Etzebeth | South Africa |
| 3 | Owen Farrell | England |
| 3 | Maro Itoje | England |
| 3 | Brian O'Driscoll | Ireland |
| 3 | David Pocock | Australia |
| 3 | Johnny Sexton | Ireland |
| 2 | Fourie du Preez | South Africa |
| 2 | Pieter-Steph du Toit | South Africa |
| 2 | Matt Giteau | Australia |
| 2 | Bryan Habana | South Africa |
| 2 | Imanol Harinordoquy | France |
| 2 | Jamie Heaslip | Ireland |
| 2 | Michael Hooper | Australia |
| 2 | Rieko Ioane | New Zealand |
| 2 | Alun Wyn Jones | Wales |
| 2 | Cheslin Kolbe | South Africa |
| 2 | Victor Matfield | South Africa |
| 2 | Sergio Parisse | Italy |
| 2 | Ardie Savea | New Zealand |
| 2 | Julian Savea | New Zealand |
| 2 | Jonny Wilkinson | England |

### By country

Winners by country :
| 11 | New Zealand |
| 4 | South Africa |
| 3 | France |
| 3 | Ireland |
| 1 | England |
| 1 | Wales |
Nominations including wins by country :
| 31 | New Zealand |
| 22 | South Africa |
| 15 | Australia |
| 14 | Ireland |
| 13 | England |
| 9 | France |
| 5 | Wales |
| 2 | Argentina |
| 2 | Italy |
| 2 | Scotland |
| 1 | United States |

### By club

Multiple wins :
| 7 | Crusaders | New Zealand |
| 3 | Hurricanes | New Zealand |
| 2 | Leinster | Ireland |
| 2 | Toulouse | France |
| 2 | Stormers | South Africa |
Multiple nominations including wins :
| 14 | Crusaders | New Zealand |
| 11 | Hurricanes | New Zealand |
| 11 | Leinster | Ireland |
| 7 | Saracens | England |
| 6 | Toulouse | France |
| 6 | Bulls | South Africa |
| 5 | Stormers | South Africa |
| 5 | Sharks | South Africa |
| 4 | Stade Français | France |
| 4 | Ospreys | Wales |
| 4 | Brumbies | Australia |
| 4 | Waratahs | Australia |
| 3 | Blues | New Zealand |
| 3 | Force | Australia |
| 3 | Sale Sharks | England |
| 2 | Chiefs | New Zealand |
| 2 | Newcastle Falcons | England |
| 2 | Toyota Verblitz | Japan |
| 2 | Biarritz | France |
| 2 | Lions | South Africa |
| 2 | Reds | Australia |
| 2 | Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan |