The English trio are nominated after a super year in which the country completed a first Six Nations Grand Slam for 13 years before a series victory away in Australia.

They will seek to become the first English winner of the annual award since Jonny WIlkinson in 2003 during the event at the Hilton London Metropole.

New Zealand's Dane Coles and Beauden Barrett are also nominated in the six-strong shortlist as they seek to follow the victory achieved by World Cup winner Dan Carter last year.

The list is completed by Ireland's Jamie Heaslip.

"It is testament to the current strength of the men’s and women’s 15s game that there was so much competition for these prestigious awards," said World Rugby’s chairman, Bill Beaumont.

"There is also a great mix of experienced, proven campaigners and exciting young talent."

Captain Sarah Hunter will look to secure more English success in the women's event, where she is nominated alongside Fiao'o Fa'amausili of New Zealand and Gaëlle Mignot of France.

Australia’s Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Caslick is one of three nominees for the women’s sevens award.

She is joined by 2015 winner Portia Woodman of New Zealand and Emily Scarratt, the England and Great Britain captain.

Osea Kolinisau is rewarded in the men's list after leading Fiji to sevens gold and a first ever Olympic medal in Rio.

He is joined by France’s Virimi Vakatawa and South Africa’s Seabelo Senatla, who crossed for 66 tries in the 2015-16 World Rugby Sevens Series.