New Zealand star Carter named World Rugby Player of the Year

All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter has been named World Rugby Player of the Year ©Getty Images

New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter has been named as World Rugby Player of the Year after helping to guide his side to a record third Rugby World Cup crown with a superb haul of 19 points in the All Blacks’ 34-17 victory over Australia in the final.

Carter beat off competition from teammate Julian Savea, Australian duo Michael Hooper and David Pocock, Wales second-row Alun Wyn Jones and Scotland scrum-half Greig Laidlaw to land the prize and he received his award at a glittering ceremony at Battersea Evolution in London.

The 33-year-old was instrumental in New Zealand’s success at the tournament in England, which concluded on Saturday, and is the all-time leading point scorer in international rugby with 1,598 to his name in 112 tests.

Unsurprisingly, the All Blacks scooped the Team of the Year award after they became the first side in the history of the Rugby World Cup to successfully defend their title.

Coach of the Year went to Australia’s Michael Cheika, who has helped transform the fortunes of the Wallabies, leading them to the Rugby Championship crown, a tournament played between the Aussies, New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa, as well as the World Cup final.

“It's a dream come true,” Carter, who joined his captain Richie McCaw in winning the award for a third time, said.

“It's not why you play the game, for personal accolades, but at the same time it's very pleasing and a very proud moment because I've had to work extremely hard, especially these last two to three years with the injuries that I've had.

“To come out fighting on the other side and achieve what I've achieved personally, but also what the team has achieved, it has been a very special moment of my career.”

Carter's New Zealand career is now at an end after he accepted a lucrative move to French club side Racing Metro, meaning he will no longer be considered for All Blacks selection as the country do not select players based overseas.

New Zealand won the Team of the Year award after becoming the first team to successfully defend their Rugby World Cup title ©Getty Images

Meanwhile, Kendra Cocksedge, also of New Zealand, won the Women’s Player of the Year Award, with South African Werner Kok, who was a key member of the Blitzboks side which secured qualification for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, taking home the men’s Sevens Player of the Year prize.

Formidable Kiwi Portia Woodman was named as the women’s Sevens Player of the Year, thanks to a superb campaign where New Zealand were crowned champions.

She scored a staggering 52 tries, only the fifth player in the event’s history to pass the half-century mark.

“The World Rugby Awards are a fitting finale to an exceptional year for rugby on and off the field,” World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset said.

“On the back of the best-ever Rugby World Cup, we saw deserved accolades to those who starred in full and vibrant stadia over the past six weeks, while celebrating those whose tireless and selfless efforts ensure that our sport enjoys the global success it does from the playground to the podium.”

For the full list of award winners, click here.