Ireland’s Josh van der Flier won the 2022 World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year under 15 award on Sunday night; England’s Abby Dow won the International Rugby Players Women’s Try of the Year award at the World Rugby Awards in Monaco.
Last Updated: 20/11/22 11:02pm
Josh van der Flier follows in the footsteps of Keith Wood and Johnny Sexton to be named World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year
Ireland’s Josh van der Flier was named World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year on Sunday night and England’s Abby Dow earned World Rugby’s Women’s Try of the Year at the 2022 World Rugby Awards.
Van der Flier came out on top of a strong list of nominees for the top men’s award, a list that included teammate and captain Johnny Sexton.
Previous winner Antoine Dupont was also nominated along with Lukhanyo Am of South Africa.
Van der Flier and Sexton were part of Ireland’s historic victory against the All Blacks in New Zealand. This autumn, the side produced impressive victories in South Africa, Fiji and Australia.
Van der Flier’s individual award adds to the 2022 EPCR European Player of the Year award he won earlier this year.
“I have been incredibly lucky to have great friends and teachers who have pushed me a lot. Also, my wife and family have been very supportive,” said Van der Flier.
“I am fortunate to have experienced and talented players in our team and at my place, both in Ireland and in Leinster.
“I’ve always felt that I had to be playing well all the time otherwise I wouldn’t be playing and that’s what keeps me going.”
15. Freddie Steward (England), 14. Will Jordan (New Zealand), 13. Lukhanyo Am (South Africa), 12. Damian de Allende (South Africa), 11. Marika Koroibete (Australia), 10. Johnny Sexton (Ireland ) ), 9. Antoine Dupont (France), 1. Ellis Genge (England) 2. Malcolm Marx (South Africa) 3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland) 4. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland) 5. Sam Whitelock (New Zealand) 6. Pablo Matera (Argentina) 7. Josh van der Flier (Ireland) 8. Gregory Alldritt (France).
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell was shortlisted for World Rugby Coach of the year but missed out on the award to Wayne Smith, the World Cup-winning head coach of the Black Ferns.
Smith led the Black Ferns to their sixth Rugby World Cup victory and their first on home soil, beating England in the final. He became the first person to win the men’s and women’s World Cup as a coach.
New Zealand captain Ruahei Demant has been named the World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year for 2022 and Demant is someone Smith called “one of the best leaders I’ve had in a team”.
Ireland’s Terry Kennedy received the World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year award.
Kennedy scored 50 times in the 2022 World Rugby Sevens Series and signed his career best in seven years by helping Ireland win the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 bronze final.
Dow has won the Women’s World Rugby Try
Abby Dow was also named as part of the World Rugby Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year
England’s Dow won the World Rugby International Rugby Players Women’s Try of the Year award for England’s impressive start at the back against Canada.
“I just want to send my thanks to World Rugby and to England for helping me and the team to put on such a display,” he said at the awards ceremony.
“It was the ultimate rugby, from front to back, and everyone was just doing their job to the best of their ability. It was amazing.
“All England have got behind us, we felt it before we went (to the World Cup) and we felt it since we came back. It’s been amazing to be with them.”
Dow was also one of six Red Roses included in the World Rugby Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year.
15. Abby Dow (England), 14. Portia Woodman (New Zealand), 13. Emily Scarratt (England), 12. Theresa Fitzpatrick (New Zealand), 11. Ruby Tui (New Zealand), 10. Ruahei Demant (New Zealand ) ), 9. Laure Sansus (France), 1. Hope Rogers (USA) 2. Emily Tuttosi (Canada) 3. Sarah Bern (England) 4. Abbie Ward (England) 5. Madoussou Fall (France) 6. Alex Matthews (England) 7. Marlie Packer (England) 8. Sophie de Goede (Canada).
Ruby Tui was named World Rugby Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year.
Tui also received a new Rugby World Cup winners’ medal at an awards ceremony in Monaco, having presented his to a young Leukemia survivor on the final day of the World Cup.
“It’s amazing to be here, it’s a whirlwind,” Tui said at the event. “I’m very proud of New Zealand. It’s a great honor to win this award, I’m 27 and a half years old, I think I’ve broken the record for the oldest rookie at 15, but I’ll take it.”
Italy’s Ange Capuozzo, who came off the break to ensure the Azzurri ended their 36-game losing streak in the Six Nations and scored twice against Australia this autumn was named the 15-year-old’s best player.
Rugby World Cup 2022 Winners
- Ruby Tui (New Zealand) – World Rugby Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year
- Ange Capuozzo (Italy) – World Rugby Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year
- Wayne Smith, New Zealand Women’s 15s – International Rugby Coach
- Tappe Henning (South Africa) – World Rugby Referee Award
- Dr Farah Palmer (New Zealand) – Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service
- Bryan Habana (South Africa) – International Rugby Players Special Merit Award
- Abby Dow (England vs Canada) – Women’s Rugby World Cup Women’s Trials
- Rodrigo Fernandez (Chile vs US) – Rugby World Cup Men’s Try of the Year
- Charlotte Caslick (Australia) – Seventh World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year
- Terry Kennedy (Ireland) – Rugby Men’s International Sevens Player of the Year
- Josh van der Flier (Ireland) – 15-year-old World Rugby Men’s player
- Ruahei Demant (New Zealand) – World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year
