For most years, the title of World Rugby player of the Year represents the player who impressed the most in either the Six Nations or Rugby Championship, as well as the summer and November internationals.
But in a World Cup year, the World Rugby Player of the Year acts as a de facto player of the tournament gong. That the award ceremony takes place the night after the final supports this hypothesis.
Unsurprisingly the winner of the World Rugby Player of the Year 2015 is Dan Carter. It extends the All Black winning streak for the award to four years after Brodie Retallick won last year, Kieran Read in 2013 and Carter in 2012.
Carter - now a three-time winner - beat out the other nominees Greig Laidlaw, Alun Wyn Jones, David Pocock, Julian Savea and Michael Hooper.
.@DanCarter - World Rugby Player of the Year #WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/P3JxfbrHWY
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 1, 2015
For the other awards, New Zealand stepping sensation Nehe Milner-Skudder won the breakthrough player of the year award after making his Super Rugby debut back in February, and his international debut in August. Michael Cheika was named coach of the year.
Nehe Milner-Skudder wins breakthrough player of the year pic.twitter.com/4BFt5tSepk
— Jamie Weir (@jamiecweir) November 1, 2015
Brian O'Driscoll was also honoured for his career, getting a lifetime achievement award at age 36, along with Wallaby Nathan Sharpe.
