New Zealand’s Kieran Read was named world player of the year as the all-conquering All Blacks completed a second successive clean sweep of the International Rugby Board’s annual awards.
Steve Hansen was named coach of the year for the second year running and New Zealand captured the team of the year award for the fourth time in a row.
Read beat off competition for the IRB accolade from compatriot Ben Smith, South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth, Wales’ Leigh Halfpenny and Italy’s Sergio Parisse.
This is fantastic recognition of a very special team
Number eight Read, 28, has been in dominating form for New Zealand, who capped a perfect year in which they won all 14 of their test matches with a stunning comeback victory over Ireland at the end of November.
New Zealand’s Dan Carter won last year’s player of the year award.
“This is fantastic recognition of a very special team,” said New Zealand Rugby chairman Mike Eagle.
“We are very proud of what Steve, Kieran and the team have achieved this year as they have worked hard to be the best, and we congratulate them on these awards.”