
South Africa added several major awards to their world cup celebrations at the weekend, with star winger Bryan Habana named as the International Rugby Board (IRB) Player of the Year at the closing awards ceremony on Sunday.
He is the second South African, after team mate Schalk Burger in 2004, to pick up the prestigious award.
South Africa were named IRB Team of the Year and Jake White won the IRB Coach of the Year award, to add to the IRB Rugby World Cup crown they claimed at Stade de France against England last on Saturday, 20 October.
Habana was picked ahead of four other nominees – Argentina centre Felipe Contepomi, New Zealand flanker and 2006 IRB Player of the Year Richie McCaw, French centre Yannick Jauzion and Argentina flyhalf Juan Hernández.
Full list of IRB Awards winners:
* IRB Player of the Year – Bryan Habana, South Africa
* IRB Team of the Year – South Africa
* IRB Coach of the Year – Jake White, South Africa
* IRB Under 19 Player of the Year – Robert Fruean, New Zealand
* IRB Sevens Team of the Year – New Zealand
* IRB Sevens Player of the Year – Afeleki Pelenise, New Zealand
* IRB Women’s Personality of the Year – Sarah Corrigan
* IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service – Dick Byres
* Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service – Jose Maria Epalza
* IRB Development Award – Jacob Thompson
* Spirit of Ruby Award – Nicolas Pueta
* IRPA Try of the Year – Takudzwa Ngwenya, USA
* IRPA Special Merit Award – Fabien Pelous, France
* IRB Hall of Fame inductees – Pierre de Coubertin, Wilson Whineary, Danie Craven, Gareth Edwards, John Eales
More SA Rugby News
Springboks conquer the world
Springbok Wallpapers
IRB awards – Springboks make a clean sweep
New Zealand’s reign over
Pingback: Argentina » Blog Archives » IRB awards - Springboks make a clean sweep