World Rugby Awards Voting Panel

The World Rugby Awards panels comprise of international past players and coaches, World Rugby Hall of Fame inductees and rugby media. The following members vote on the respective Awards.

World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year

Jacques Burger (NAM)
Fiona Coghlan (IRE)
Victor Matfield (RSA)
Drew Mitchell (AUS)
Ugo Monye (ENG)
Sergio Parrise (ITA)
Kieran Read (NZL)
Blaine Scully (USA)

Criteria: This award is open to all men’s 15s players who have played more than one year of international rugby. Voting is assessed on international test match performances. Club rugby is not recognised.

World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year

Fiona Coghlan (IRE)
Lena Corson (FRA)
Abby Gustaitis (USA)
Heather Moyse (CAN)
Shannon Parry (AUS)
Melodie Robinson (NZL)
Danielle Waterman (ENG)

Criteria: This award is open to all women’s 15s players who have played more than one year of international rugby. Voting is assessed on international test match performances. Club rugby is not recognised.

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

Jacques Burger (NAM)
Fiona Coghlan (IRE)
Victor Matfield (RSA)
Drew Mitchell (AUS)
Ugo Monye (ENG)
Sergio Parrise (ITA)
Kieran Read (NZL)
Blaine Scully (USA)

Criteria: This award is open to all men’s 15s players who have played international test matches in the voting year. Voting is assessed on international test match performances. Club rugby is not recognised.

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

Fiona Coghlan (IRE)
Lena Corson (FRA)
Abby Gustaitis (USA)
Heather Moyse (CAN)
Shannon Parry (AUS)
Melodie Robinson (NZL)
Danielle Waterman (ENG)

Criteria: This award is open to all women’s 15s players who have played international test matches in the voting year. Voting is assessed on international test match performances. Club rugby is not recognised.

World Rugby Men's Breakthrough Player of the Year 

Jacques Burger (NAM)
Fiona Coghlan (IRE)
Victor Matfield (RSA)
Drew Mitchell (AUS)
Ugo Monye (ENG)
Sergio Parrise (ITA)
Kieran Read (NZL)
Blaine Scully (USA)

Criteria: This award is open to all men’s 15s players who have played no more than one year of international rugby. Voting is assessed on international test match performances. Club rugby is not recognised.

World Rugby Women's Breakthrough Player of the Year 

Fiona Coghlan (IRE)
Lena Corson (FRA)
Abby Gustaitis (USA)
Heather Moyse (CAN)
Shannon Parry (AUS)
Melodie Robinson (NZL)
Danielle Waterman (ENG)

Criteria: This award is open to all women’s 15s players who have played no more than one year of international rugby. Voting is assessed on international test match performances. Club rugby is not recognised.

International Rugby Players Men's Try of the Year

Rachael Burford (ENG)
Lena Corson (FRA)
Dean Mumm (AUS)
Conrad Smith (NZL)

Criteria: This award is open to all men’s 15s tries scored in international test matches. Club rugby tries not recognised.

International Rugby Players Women's Try of the Year

Rachael Burford (ENG)
Lena Corson (FRA)
Dean Mumm (AUS)
Conrad Smith (NZL)

Criteria: This award is open to all women’s 15s tries scored in international test matches in 2024. Club rugby tries not recognised.

World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year in partnership with HSBC

Layla Arrison (RSA)
Rupert Cox (ENG)
Rikki Swannell (NZL)
Karl Te Nana (NZL)

Criteria: This award is open to all men’s sevens players who participated in the HSBC SVNS 2025.

World Rugby Women's Sevens Player of the Year in partnership with HSBC

Layla Arrison (RSA)
Rupert Cox (ENG)
Rikki Swannell (NZL)
Karl Te Nana (NZL)

Criteria: This award is open to all women’s sevens players who participated in the HSBC SVNS 2025.

World Rugby Coach of the Year

Brett Robinson, World Rugby Chair
Alan Gilpin, World Rugby Chief Executive
Phil Davies, World Rugby Director of Rugby

Criteria: This award is open to all international men’s and women’s, sevens and 15s coaches.

World Rugby Referee Award

Brett Robinson, World Rugby Chair
Alan Gilpin, World Rugby Chief Executive
Phil Davies, World Rugby Director of Rugby 

Criteria: The Referee Award recognises retired referees who have given a lot to the game of rugby both on and off the field.

Rugby for All Award

Brett Robinson, World Rugby Chair
Alan Gilpin, World Rugby Chief Executive
David Carrigy, World Rugby Chief of International Federation

Criteria: The Rugby for All Award honours an individual, union or group who have applied the core values of the game – discipline, integrity, passion, respect and solidarity – and their involvement in rugby to make a positive, lasting and tangible impact on society.

Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service

Brett Robinson, World Rugby Chair
Alan Gilpin, World Rugby Chief Executive
David Carrigy, World Rugby Chief of International Federation

Criteria: The Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service honours an individual, union or group, male or female, who has given outstanding service to their country and contributed to the international game in as many as possible of the following areas: playing, coaching, management, training, administration, media and broadcast.

International Rugby Players Special Merit

International Rugby Players representatives

Criteria: The IRP Special Merit Award is presented to a player by fellow players in recognition of outstanding contribution to the professional game on and off the field. The International Rugby Players select the recipient of this award.