French skipper Thierry Dusautoir wins IRB Player of the Year award - Rugby News
French captain, Thierry Dusautoir, who failed to guide his team to claim the Webb Ellis Trophy on Sunday, has secured a prestigious individual award, IRB Player of the Year, on October 24, in Auckland. A special ceremony was held in Auckland, in which a
large number of former and current rugby stars participated, to announce the biggest achievers of the year a day after the final of Rugby World Cup 2011. Thierry Dusautoir was preferred over three All Blacks, two Wallabies and a Welsh player to be handed over
the award by an independent panel of judges.
The New Zealand side was declared the best team of the year for their splendid show during the previous 12 months. Graham Henry has been named the most successful coach of the year for his impressive output with the All Blacks.
Dusautoir has become the second French player to win this honour after their former captain, Fabien Galthié, won the title back in 2002.
The skipper made his debut with the French side in 2006 and has won 49 test caps for his team. He led his side from the front in the final of RWC 2011 against All Blacks and scored the only try of his team which saw him winning the Man of the Match award
as well. Talking to reporters after the close defeat to New Zealand he said that, “During the week the players felt they wanted to do something. Many of our players were not there in 2007. We thought about it this morning.”
The IRB list of other accolade winners is listed below:
IRB Player of the Year: Thierry Dusautoir
IRB Team of the Year: New Zealand
IRB Coach of the Year: Graham Henry
IRB Junior Player of the Year: George Ford, England
IRB Sevens Player of the Year in association with HSBC: Cecil Afrika, South Africa
IRB Women's Personality of the Year: Ruth Mitchell
IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Keith Lawrence
Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Jock Hobbs
IRB Development Award: Rookie Rugby
IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Wooden Spoon
IRPA Special Merit Award: George Smith, Australia
IRPA Try of the Year: Radike Samo, Australia v New Zealand
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