New Zealand once again also took the World Team of the Year award – although this time it was their women’s team, who defeated England 41-32 in an enthralling World Cup final at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.

The Women’s Player of the Year award went to the Black Ferns’ winger Portia Woodman, whose talent played such a large part in their successful World Cup run.

England’s Eddie Jones earned the World Rugby Coach of the Year award from another illustrious predecessor in that position, Sir Clive Woodward.

Barrett became the sixth Kiwi player in a row to win the men's award after seeing off this year's rivals - team-mate Rieko Ioane, the English pair of Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje, and Australia's Israel Folau.

Farrell and Itoje made the shortlist after their performances for England and the British and Irish Lions, who drew their series 1-1 with New Zealand.

It was the first drawn series between the Lions and the All Blacks.

"I’m very proud and surprised," said the 26-year-old fly half Barrett.

"I wanted to do better than last year and I feel I’ve still got plenty more to come so I think that’s exciting.

"I think the Lions series put us under the most pressure I’ve probably felt in the black jersey.

"That’s credit to the Lions.

"We learned a lot from that series and particularly taking that into the World Cup.

"That series was awesome."

Barnett added: “I guess one day when I hang the boots up I can look back and really be proud of this.

"I’ve got to thank the team, I’m just one player in a great team.

"I get a lot of credit so I have to thank them."

Jones, the Australian-born England coach, took over his current role in late 2015.

After beating the Lions and Wales coach Warren Gatland, and 2016 winner Steve Hansen, the New Zealand coach, to the award, he commented:

"I think it’s great for the team, a reflection of our team, the great players we’ve got and the staff we’ve got and what we’ve put together.

"The only reason I took the job was because I thought England had very good players and there  was just something a little bit missing.

"The players have been able to find that by themselves and we are only halfway through the project so we’ve still got a couple of good years to go."

Sir Clive commented: "The team winning the Team of the Year award shows how good our it is and honestly they make me look good.

"They do all the work and I am out there on the sideline just waiting for the ball.

“As soon as I made the team for sevens, my parents gave me one of the rocks we have back home, up north, to either stick in my boot or just to have with me wherever I go.

"So I have a little bit of dirt from New Zealand travelling with me all around the world."

Earlier in the evening, Barrett presented World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year award to his 20-year-old All Blacks team-mate Ioane.