World Rugby is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. World Rugby organises the Rugby World Cup every four years, the sport's most recognised and most profitable competition. It also organises a number of other international competitions, such as the World Rugby Sevens Series, the Rugby World Cup Sevens, the World Under 20 Championship, and the Pacific Nations Cup.
Brian Gerard O'Driscoll is an Irish former professional rugby union player. He played at outside centre for the Irish provincial team Leinster and for Ireland. He captained Ireland from 2003 until 2012, and captained the British & Irish Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand. He is regarded by critics as one of the greatest rugby players of all time.
Richard Hugh McCaw is a retired New Zealand professional rugby union player. He captained the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks, in 110 out of his 148 test matches, and won two Rugby World Cups. He has won the World Rugby Player of the Year award a joint record three times and was the most capped test rugby player of all time from August 2015 to October 2020. McCaw was awarded World Rugby player of the decade (2011–2020) in 2021. McCaw is also a winner of the New Zealand sportsman of the decade award.
Daniel William Carter is a New Zealand retired rugby union player. Carter played for the Crusaders in Super Rugby and for New Zealand's national team, the All Blacks. He is the highest point scorer in test match rugby, and is considered by many experts as the greatest ever first five-eighth (fly-half) in the history of the game. He was named the International Rugby Board Player of the Year in 2005, 2012 and 2015.
Thierry Dusautoir is a French former rugby union player who last played for France at international level and Toulouse in the French Top 14 club competition. He was called the "Dark Destroyer" during his career. Dusautoir was considered a strong ball carrier and possessed incredibly powerful and effective tackling. He was considered the best tackler in the world during his career.
The World Rugby Awards are given out annually by World Rugby, the worldwide governing body for rugby union, for major achievements in the sport. The idea of rewarding excellence in rugby was disclosed in 2001 following the Annual Meeting of the International Rugby Board Council in Copenhagen, and the first ceremony was first awarded later that year. The International Rugby Players' Association also gives out awards, for Try of the Year, and Special Merit, as a part of the programme. As of 2021, they now present Women's Try of the Year.
Jerome Kaino is a former New Zealand rugby union player.
James Heaslip is an Irish former rugby union player who represented Leinster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions. He played as a number 8. Heislip earned 95 caps for Ireland during his international career from 2006 to 2017, making him one of the most capped players in Irish national team history.
The World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year is awarded by World Rugby each year. It was first awarded in 2004. The award is based in large part on the player’s performance over the course of the World Rugby Sevens Series, along with other Sevens tournaments during the year.
Kieran James Read is a New Zealand former rugby union player. He played as a number 8 and is a former captain of the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks.
The 2011 Rugby World Cup Final was a rugby union match between France and New Zealand, to determine the winner of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The match took place on 23 October 2011 at Eden Park, in Auckland, New Zealand. New Zealand won the match 8–7.
Pieter Stephanus du Toit is a South African professional rugby union player and two-time winner of World Rugby Player of the Year. Du Toit plays as a lock or a flanker for the South Africa national team and the Toyota Verblitz in Japan Rugby League One. After winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup with South Africa, he was awarded the 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year, an award he won for a second time in 2024. He was awarded man of the match in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand. Known for his stamina, tackling ability and high work rate, he is considered to be one of the greatest players of his generation.
Magali Harvey is a Canadian rugby union player.
Jessy Marie Trémoulière is a French rugby union player. She represented France at the 2014 and 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup. She was a member of the squad that won their fourth Six Nations title in 2014. She was a member of the France women's national rugby sevens team to the 2016 Summer Olympics. She was named player of the year 2018 at the world rugby award.
The IRP Men's Try of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by World Rugby at the World Rugby Awards. The International Rugby Players (IRP) – formerly International Rugby Players Association – select the nominees from which the winner is decided by a public vote. As of 2017, the IRPA selection panel comprises Isaac Boss, Andries Pretorius, Hale T-Pole and Stefan Terblanche.
The World Rugby Women's 15s Player of the Year is awarded annually by World Rugby at the World Rugby Awards. The award is open to all women’s 15s players who have played international test matches in the voting year, voting is assessed on international test matches only. Prior to 2015, the IRB presented the Women's Player of the Year award from 2001 to 2002, and in 2012 and 2014. The IRB Women's Personality of the Year award was presented from 2003 to 2011.
The World Rugby Men's 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year is an award given annually by World Rugby at the World Rugby Awards. The award is given to 15s players who have played no more than one year of international rugby. Voting is assessed on international test matches only.
The International Rugby Players Women's Try of the Year was first presented in 2021 and is awarded to the best women’s 15s tries scored during international test matches within the voting year. The inaugural winner was Emilie Boulard of France. In similar fashion to the Men's Try of the Year, the try is voted on by the fans from four nominations that have been shortlisted by the IRP panel; The panel comprises Conrad Smith, Rachael Burford (ENG), Thierry Dusautoir (FRA), Fiao'o Fa'amausili (NZL), Bryan Habana (RSA) and Jamie Heaslip (IRE).
World Rugby Men's 15s Dream Team of the Year was first presented in 2021 by World Rugby. The award is open to all men's 15s players who have played international test matches in the voting year. They are voted by a panel of international past players and coaches, World Rugby Hall of Fame inductees and the rugby media.
Pieter-Steph du Toit (2024)
Dan Carter 
