2022 World Rugby Awards nominees unveiled

Following a stellar year for international rugby culminating in a record-breaking Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand, nominees for the sport’s ultimate accolade feature players, coaches and unsung heroes who have made their mark on 2022 both on and off the field.

Selected by the star-studded World Rugby Awards panels, there are nominees in nine categories which include the World Rugby Referee Award, World Rugby Coach of the Year, Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service and the popular World Rugby Men’s and Women's 15s Dream Teams of the Year.

The men and women’s World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year is also up for the awards where fans can cast their vote on social media and select their winners for the two International Rugby Players Men’s and Women’s Try of the Year categories until Thursday, 17 November.

Twelve countries are represented among the nominees in Australia, Canada, Chile, England, Fiji, France, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales, with Ireland having the most representatives with eight.

Australia are also rewarded for their performances on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and at Rugby World Cup Sevens this year with five nominees in the Men’s and Women’s Sevens Player of the Year categories.

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The 22nd edition of the awards will be returning to a physical format for the first time since the pandemic and will be handed to their recipients on 20 November from 19:30 CET in the iconic Salle des Étoiles for a magnificent ceremony under the High Patronage of HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco.

WORLD RUGBY AWARDS 2022 | NOMINEES

World Rugby Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year

Maud Muir (ENG)

Vitalina Naikore (FIJ)

Maiakawanakaulani Roos (NZL)

Ruby Tui (NZL)

World Rugby Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year

Henry Arundell (ENG)

Ange Capuozzo (ITA)

Mack Hansen (IRE)

Dan Sheehan (IRE)

World Rugby Coach of the Year

Andy Farrell, Ireland Men's 15s 

Fabien Galthié, France Men's 15s 

Simon Middleton England Women's 15s 

Wayne Smith, New Zealand Women's 15s 

International Rugby Players Women’s Try of the Year

Sylvia Brunt (New Zealand v Wales on 16 October)

Emily Chancellor (Australia, v England on 30 October)

Abby Dow (England v Canada on 5 November)

Linda Djougang (Ireland, v Wales on 26 March)

Nomawethu Mabenge (South Africa, v Spain on 12 August)

So, who will win it?

International Rugby Players Men’s Try of the Year

Rodrigo Fernandez (Chile, v USA on 9 July)

Lalakai Foketi (Australia v France on 5 November)

Chris Harris (Scotland, v Italy on 12 March)

Edoardo Padovani (Italy, v Wales on 19 March)

Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales, v South Africa on 2 July)

Kipchoge in final five-man list for the 2022 World Athlete of the Year award

World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year Charlotte Caslick (AUS)

Maddison Levi (AUS)

Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe (IRE)

Faith Nathan (AUS)

World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year

Terry Kennedy (IRE)

Nick Malouf (AUS)

Kaminieli Rasaku (FIJ)

Corey Toole (AUS)

World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year

Lukhanyo Am (RSA)

Antoine Dupont (FRA)

Johnny Sexton (IRE)

Josh van der Flier (IRE)

World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year

Sophie de Goede (CAN)

Ruahei Demant (NZL) 

Alex Matthews (ENG) 

Laure Sansus (FRA)

Portia Woodman (NZL)

Categories to be awarded on Sunday, 20 November, 2022

World Rugby Referee Award

International Rugby Players Special Merit Award

Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service

World Rugby Men’s 15s Dream Team of the Year

World Rugby Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year