South Africa’s World Cup-winning winger Bryan Habana has been named the International Rugby Board’s Player of the Year.
Following in the footsteps of team-mate Schalk Burger, Habana was crowned at the IRB awards ceremony on Sunday night, beating off competition from Argentina centre Felipe Contepomi, New Zealand flanker and 2006 winner Richie McCaw, French centre Yannick Jauzion and Argentina fly-half Juan Hernandez.
The flying wing equalled Jonah Lomu’s record of eight World Cup tries as his team claimed the title with a 15-6 win over England.
Fittingly, the Springboks were named Team of the Year, with their coach Jake White crowned top coach.
The winners were selected by an independent panel of judges made up of former internationals, with every Test from the start of the RBS 6 Nations to the World Cup final taken into account.
Pierre de Coubertin, Wilson Whineary, Dr Danny Craven, Gareth Edwards and John Eales were inducted into the IRB’s Hall of Fame after a public vote, while France’s veteran lock Fabien Pelous was handed a Special Merit award.
Takudzwa Ngwenya’s try for USA in their World Cup pool defeat to the Springboks, during which he outstripped the jet-heeled Habana, was named Try of the Year.
