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World Rugby Player of the Year (previously IRB Player of the Year) is an accolade awarded by the sport’s governing body to the player considered to be the world’s best from the preceding season – comparable to FIFA’s Ballon d’Or.
Yet unlike the Ballon d’Or, the World Rugby Player of the Year has become something of a joke among much of the rugby community based on some questionable decisions regarding past winners and nominees.
Many attribute this to a flawed voting system (you can read the criteria at the bottom of this page).
I propose a much simpler process, not unlike that which determines FIFA’s Ballon d’Or or the NBA MVP award.
Who votes
Selected rugby union sportswriters/journalists from around the world.
The coach and captain of each international rugby union team.
World Rugby Awards voting panel comprised of former Test players.
Voting format
1. Selected voters send in their list of five players (in no particular order) they have deemed to be the top performers over the course of the season.
2. The votes are tallied and the five players with the most votes make up the list of nominees.
3. The nominations are than released to the voters, who pick one player they deem the top performer.
4. The player with the most votes is crowned World Rugby Player of the Year.
Simple.
Gone would be the days of the number of nominees ranging from four to seven given the year, without any explanation, confusing the rugby public, and the past injustices involving both nominations and winners.
This proposed new criteria would more accurately reflect the best performers on the international stage, and help restore the prestige that goes with what is meant to be the sport’s highest individual accolade.
In my follow up article I will delve into past winners and nominees of World Rugby Player of the Year.
The World Rugby Awards panel votes on all international Test matches throughout the year using a points system i.e 3 points for best player of the match, 2 points for second best player of the match and 1 point for third best player of the match.
These votes, and a discussion among the World Rugby Awards panel to consider aspects such as form, appearances and opposition, form the basis in determining a shortlist of nominees which is announced prior to the end of the Autumn Internationals in November.
Once the nominees are announced the public is invited to give their opinion on social media as to who they believe should win the World Rugby Player of the Year Award. Select international media are also invited to vote.
Taking into account votes, and input from media and fans, the final winner of the prestigious IRB Player of the Year Award is determined by the IRB Awards panel at the end of the November test window.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.