The IRB Awards are given out annually by the International Rugby Board

International Rugby Board

The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...

, the worldwide governing body for rugby union

Rugby union

Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

, for major achievement in the sport. They were first awarded in 2001. The International Rugby Players' Association also gives out two awards, for Try of the Year and Special Merit, as a part of the programme.

2011

• IRB International Player of the Year
  IRB International Player of the Year
  IRB Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International Rugby Board. It is awarded to the player who is adjudged to have been the best performer in rugby union internationals in the preceding season IRB Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International...
  
  : Thierry Dusautoir
  Thierry Dusautoir
  Thierry Dusautoir is a French rugby union player who currently plays for France at international level and Toulouse in the French Top 14 club competition. Dusautoir is a strong ball carrier with good speed and strength to get out of tackles.Dusautoir was born in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire...
  
   
• IRB International Team of the Year
  IRB International Team of the Year
  The IRB International Team of the Year is awarded by the International Rugby Board in the autumn each year.-List of winners:* 2001: * 2002: * 2003: * 2004: * 2005: * 2006: * 2007: * 2008: * 2009: * 2010: * 2011: -List of other IRB Awards:...
  
  :
• IRB International Coach of the Year
  IRB International Coach of the Year
  The IRB International Coach of the Year is awarded by the International Rugby Board in the autumn each year.-List of winners:* 2001: Rod Macqueen * 2002: Bernard Laporte * 2003: Clive Woodward * 2004: Jake White * 2005: Graham Henry...
  
  : Graham Henry
  Graham Henry
  Graham Henry is a New Zealand Rugby Union coach, and former head coach of the country's national team, the All Blacks. He played rugby union for Canterbury and cricket for Otago in the Plunket Shield. Henry was heavily criticized following the All Blacks quarterfinal exit at the 2007 Rugby World...
  
   
• IRB Junior Player of the Year
  IRB Junior Player of the Year
  The IRB Junior Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International Rugby Board. It is awarded to the player of the tournament in that year's Under 20 World Cup. It replaces the now defunct U21 Player of the Year and the U19 Player of the Year. Three of the four winners of this...
  
  : George Ford
  George Ford (rugby union)
  George Ford is a rugby union footballer who plays for Leicester Tigers. He plays at fly-half. His brother Joe plays for Leeds Carnegie. Born in Oldham, Lancashire he is the son of England defence coach Mike Ford...
  
   
• IRB International Sevens Player of the Year
  IRB International Sevens Player of the Year
  The IRB International Sevens Player of the Year is awarded by the International Rugby Board in the autumn each year. It was first awarded in 2004.-List of winners:* 2004: Simon Amor * 2005: Orene Ai’i * 2006: Uale Mai * 2007: Afeleke Pelenise...
  
  : Cecil Afrika
  Cecil Afrika
  Cecil Afrika is a South African rugby union player. He is currently part of the South African sevens team where he plays at Flyhalf.-Career:Afrika represented the South African Schoolboys in 2006...
  
   
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Jock Hobbs
  Jock Hobbs
  Michael James "Jock" Bowie Hobbs, CNZM is a former New Zealand rugby union player who was an All Blacks flanker who played in 21 tests between 1983 and 1986, with four tests as captain. In recent years he has been prominent in rugby administration...
  
   
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Wooden Spoon Society
  Wooden Spoon Society
  Wooden Spoon is a children's charity founded in 1983, when the England rugby team received the Wooden Spoon in the 5 Nations. Spoon is dedicated to helping children and young people who are disadvantaged physically, mentally or socially by using sport as a method of improving lives while...
  
   United Kingdom
• IRB Women's Personality of the Year: Ruth Mitchell
• IRB Development Award winner: Rookie Rugby   USA
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Keith Lawrence 
• IRPA Special Merit Award: George Smith 
• IRPA Try of the Year: Radike Samo
  Radike Samo
  Radike Samo is an Australian rugby union player. He plays lock, flanker, number 8 and can even play on the wing...
  
   
• IRB Hall of Fame inductees:
  • Roger Vanderfield
    Roger Vanderfield
    Ian Roger Vanderfield AO OBE was an Australian doctor, and a rugby union referee and administrator. Vanderfield refereed over 1200 games, including 32 test matches and internationals.-Medical career:...
    
     
  • Richard Littlejohn
    Richard Littlejohn
    Richard William Littlejohn is an English author, broadcaster and journalist. He is noted for his Conservative views and currently writes a twice-weekly column for the Daily Mail....
    
     
  • Nicholas Shehadie
    Nicholas Shehadie
    Sir Nicholas Michael Shehadie, AC, OBE KStJ is the former Lord Mayor of Sydney and a former national representative rugby union captain, who made thirty career Test appearances...
    
     
  • John Kendall-Carpenter
    John Kendall-Carpenter
    John MacGregor Kendall-Carpenter was an England rugby union international who won 23 caps as a back row forward between 1949 and 1954. He subsequently served as President of the Rugby Football Union , the England Schools Rugby Football Union and Cornwall...
    
     
  • David Kirk
    David Kirk
    David Edward Kirk, MBE, , is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He is best known for having been the captain of the All Blacks when they won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987....
    
     
  • Nick Farr-Jones
    Nick Farr-Jones
    Nicholas Campbell Farr-Jones is a former Australian rugby union footballer. His position was scrum-half. He attended Newington College and St Andrew's College within the University of Sydney...
    
     
  • Francois Pienaar
    Francois Pienaar
    Jacobus Francois Pienaar is a South African former rugby union player. He played flanker for South Africa from 1993 until 1996, winning 29 international caps, all of them as captain. He is best known for leading South Africa to victory in the 1995 Rugby World Cup...
    
     
  • Martin Johnson 
  • John Smit
    John Smit
    John William Smit is the 50th and current captain of the South African national rugby union team, the Springboks. He has played most of his career as a hooker, but played twice for the Springboks off the bench as a prop prior to the South Africa coaching staff's decision to use him as a tighthead...
    
     
  • Brian Lochore
    Brian Lochore
    Sir Brian James Lochore, ONZ, KNZM, OBE is a former rugby union footballer and coach who represented and captained the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks. He played at number 8 and lock, as well as captaining the side 46 times...
    
     
  • Bob Dwyer
    Bob Dwyer
    Bob Dwyer is an Australian rugby union coach.Educated at Sydney Boys High School, he coached Sydney club Randwick to four Sydney championship wins before becoming Australia's national team coach. He coached Australia from 1982-83, and again from 1988...
    
     
  • Kitch Christie
    Kitch Christie
    George Moir Christie, better known as Kitch Christie , was a South African rugby union coach best known for coaching the country's national team, the Springboks, to victory at the 1995 Rugby World Cup...
    
     
  • Rod Macqueen 
  • Clive Woodward
    Clive Woodward
    Sir Clive Ronald Woodward OBE is an English former rugby union player and coach. He was coach of the team from 1997 to 2004, managing them to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He is currently the British Olympic Association's Director of Elite Performance.-Early life:Woodward was born in Ely...
    
     
  • Jake White
    Jake White
    Jake White is a rugby union coach and former coach of the South Africa national rugby union team, the Springboks. His most notable achievements as coach include leading the Springboks to victory in 2007 Rugby World Cup and the 2004 Tri Nations title...
    
     
  • Gareth Rees 
  • Agustín Pichot
    Agustín Pichot
    Agustín Pichot is a retired Argentine rugby union player, formerly captain of the Argentine team and the English club Bristol. In addition to Bristol, he played for French sides Stade Français and Racing Métro after leaving Argentine team CASI from San Isidro in 1997...
    
     
  • Brian Lima
    Brian Lima
    Brian Lima is a former Samoan rugby union footballer who was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011. Originally a wing, Lima moved into centre for Manu Samoa as his pace lessened, but he remained a formidable player throughout his career.He earned the memorable nickname of "The Chiropractor"...
    
     
  • Jonah Lomu
    Jonah Lomu
    Jonah Tali Lomu, MNZM is a New Zealand rugby union player. He had sixty-three caps as an All Black after debuting in 1994. He is generally regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby union. He has had a huge impact on the game...
    
     

2010

• IRB International Player of the Year
  IRB International Player of the Year
  IRB Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International Rugby Board. It is awarded to the player who is adjudged to have been the best performer in rugby union internationals in the preceding season IRB Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International...
  
  : Richie McCaw
  Richie McCaw
  Richard Hugh "Richie" McCaw is a New Zealand rugby union player, and is the current test captain. He plays in the openside flanker position for the New Zealand, Crusaders and Canterbury rugby teams...
  
   
• IRB International Team of the Year
  IRB International Team of the Year
  The IRB International Team of the Year is awarded by the International Rugby Board in the autumn each year.-List of winners:* 2001: * 2002: * 2003: * 2004: * 2005: * 2006: * 2007: * 2008: * 2009: * 2010: * 2011: -List of other IRB Awards:...
  
  :
• IRB International Coach of the Year
  IRB International Coach of the Year
  The IRB International Coach of the Year is awarded by the International Rugby Board in the autumn each year.-List of winners:* 2001: Rod Macqueen * 2002: Bernard Laporte * 2003: Clive Woodward * 2004: Jake White * 2005: Graham Henry...
  
  : Graham Henry
  Graham Henry
  Graham Henry is a New Zealand Rugby Union coach, and former head coach of the country's national team, the All Blacks. He played rugby union for Canterbury and cricket for Otago in the Plunket Shield. Henry was heavily criticized following the All Blacks quarterfinal exit at the 2007 Rugby World...
  
   
• IRB Junior Player of the Year
  IRB Junior Player of the Year
  The IRB Junior Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International Rugby Board. It is awarded to the player of the tournament in that year's Under 20 World Cup. It replaces the now defunct U21 Player of the Year and the U19 Player of the Year. Three of the four winners of this...
  
  : Julian Savea
  Julian Savea
  Julian Savea is an New Zealand Rugby Union Player who currently plays for the Wellington Lions in the ITM Cup and has represented his country at rugby sevens and at under 20 level. He plays on the wings or at centre.-Career:...
  
   
• IRB International Sevens Player of the Year
  IRB International Sevens Player of the Year
  The IRB International Sevens Player of the Year is awarded by the International Rugby Board in the autumn each year. It was first awarded in 2004.-List of winners:* 2004: Simon Amor * 2005: Orene Ai’i * 2006: Uale Mai * 2007: Afeleke Pelenise...
  
  : Mikaele Pesamino
  Mikaele Pesamino
  Mikaele Pesamino is a rugby union player in the Samoa Sevens team. He is one of the highest point scorers in the 2009–2010 IRB Sevens World Series.Pesamino was born in Vailele on the island of Upolu in Samoa....
  
   
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Jean-Claude Baqué 
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Virreyes RC 
• IRB Women's Personality of the Year Carla Hohepa
  Carla Hohepa
  Cala Hohepa is a female New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a wing for New Zealand, Otago Spirit and Alhambra Union....
  
   
• IRB Development Award winner Brian O’Shea 
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service Colin High
• IRPA Try of the Year: Chris Ashton
  Chris Ashton
  Chris Ashton is an English rugby union player who has represented England in both Rugby League and Rugby Union...
  
   

2009

• IRB International Player of the Year
  IRB International Player of the Year
  IRB Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International Rugby Board. It is awarded to the player who is adjudged to have been the best performer in rugby union internationals in the preceding season IRB Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International...
  
  : Richie McCaw
  Richie McCaw
  Richard Hugh "Richie" McCaw is a New Zealand rugby union player, and is the current test captain. He plays in the openside flanker position for the New Zealand, Crusaders and Canterbury rugby teams...
  
   
• IRB International Team of the Year
  IRB International Team of the Year
  The IRB International Team of the Year is awarded by the International Rugby Board in the autumn each year.-List of winners:* 2001: * 2002: * 2003: * 2004: * 2005: * 2006: * 2007: * 2008: * 2009: * 2010: * 2011: -List of other IRB Awards:...
  
  :
• IRB International Coach of the Year
  IRB International Coach of the Year
  The IRB International Coach of the Year is awarded by the International Rugby Board in the autumn each year.-List of winners:* 2001: Rod Macqueen * 2002: Bernard Laporte * 2003: Clive Woodward * 2004: Jake White * 2005: Graham Henry...
  
  : Declan Kidney
  Declan Kidney
  Declan Kidney is an Irish rugby union coach.-Early life:Kidney played rugby for UCC and later for Dolphin RFC....
  
   (Ireland
  Irish Rugby Football Union
  The Irish Rugby Football Union is the body managing rugby union in Ireland. The IRFU has its head office at 10/12 Lansdowne Road and home ground at Aviva Stadium, where Irish rugby union international matches are played...
  
  )
• IRB Junior Player of the Year
  IRB Junior Player of the Year
  The IRB Junior Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International Rugby Board. It is awarded to the player of the tournament in that year's Under 20 World Cup. It replaces the now defunct U21 Player of the Year and the U19 Player of the Year. Three of the four winners of this...
  
  : Aaron Cruden
  Aaron Cruden
  Aaron Cruden is a World Cup winning New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays for Manawatu Turbos in the National Provincial Championship, Chiefs in the Super 15 Competition and is an All Blacks international. Cruden's position is first five-eighth/fly-half...
  
   
• IRB International Sevens Player of the Year
  IRB International Sevens Player of the Year
  The IRB International Sevens Player of the Year is awarded by the International Rugby Board in the autumn each year. It was first awarded in 2004.-List of winners:* 2004: Simon Amor * 2005: Orene Ai’i * 2006: Uale Mai * 2007: Afeleke Pelenise...
  
  : Ollie Phillips
  Ollie Phillips (rugby union)
  Ollie Phillips is a rugby union footballer who plays at wing or full back for Stade Français and England Sevens.- External links :*...
  
   
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: L'Aquila Rugby
  L'Aquila Rugby
  L'Aquila Rugby 1936 are an Italian rugby union club currently competing in Super 10.The club is based in L'Aquila which is the capital of Abruzzo.The official colours of the club are black and green, the colours of the city of L'Aquila.-History:...
  
   

  The town of L'Aquila

  L'Aquila

  L'Aquila is a city and comune in central Italy, both the capital city of the Abruzzo region and of the Province of L'Aquila. , it has a population of 73,150 inhabitants, but has a daily presence in the territory of 100,000 people for study, tertiary activities, jobs and tourism...

  
  , with long rugby traditions, was hit on 6 April 2009 by an earthquake

  2009 L'Aquila earthquake

  The 2009 L'Aquila earthquake occurred in the region of Abruzzo, in central Italy. The main shock occurred at 3:32 local time on 6 April 2009, and was rated 5.8 on the Richter scale and 6.3 on the moment magnitude scale; its epicentre was near L'Aquila, the capital of Abruzzo, which together...

  
   which left 307 people dead and tens of thousands homeless. Amongst the victims was promising young prop Lorenzo Sebastiani, who had played in the last IRB Junior World Championship in Wales. L'Aquila Rugby Club provided shelter, refuge and comfort to people in the town. L'Aquila's Rugby were in the front line of the rescue effort, and helped evacuate victims from damaged buildings.

• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: to be awarded
• IRB International Women's Personality of the Year: Debby Hodgkinson 
• IRPA Special Merit Award: Kevin Mac Clancy
• IRB Development Award: to be awarded
• IRPA Try of the Year: Jaque Fourie

2008

• IRB International Player of the Year
  IRB International Player of the Year
  IRB Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International Rugby Board. It is awarded to the player who is adjudged to have been the best performer in rugby union internationals in the preceding season IRB Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International...
  
  : Shane Williams
  Shane Williams
  Shane Mark Williams is a Welsh international rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Ospreys and who can also play scrum-half. Williams is the record try scorer for the Wales national team and he is third on the international list of leading Rugby union Test try scorers behind Daisuke Ohata...
  
  ,
• IRB International Team of the Year
  IRB International Team of the Year
  The IRB International Team of the Year is awarded by the International Rugby Board in the autumn each year.-List of winners:* 2001: * 2002: * 2003: * 2004: * 2005: * 2006: * 2007: * 2008: * 2009: * 2010: * 2011: -List of other IRB Awards:...
  
  :
• IRB International Coach of the Year
  IRB International Coach of the Year
  The IRB International Coach of the Year is awarded by the International Rugby Board in the autumn each year.-List of winners:* 2001: Rod Macqueen * 2002: Bernard Laporte * 2003: Clive Woodward * 2004: Jake White * 2005: Graham Henry...
  
  : Graham Henry
  Graham Henry
  Graham Henry is a New Zealand Rugby Union coach, and former head coach of the country's national team, the All Blacks. He played rugby union for Canterbury and cricket for Otago in the Plunket Shield. Henry was heavily criticized following the All Blacks quarterfinal exit at the 2007 Rugby World...
  
  ,
• IRB Junior Player of the Year
  IRB Junior Player of the Year
  The IRB Junior Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International Rugby Board. It is awarded to the player of the tournament in that year's Under 20 World Cup. It replaces the now defunct U21 Player of the Year and the U19 Player of the Year. Three of the four winners of this...
  
  : Luke Braid
  Luke Braid
  Luke Gary Braid is a rugby union footballer who plays for the Bay of Plenty Steamers in the Air New Zealand Cup. He is a part of the Chiefs wider training squad for the 2009 Super 14 season...
  
  ,
• IRB International Sevens Player of the Year
  IRB International Sevens Player of the Year
  The IRB International Sevens Player of the Year is awarded by the International Rugby Board in the autumn each year. It was first awarded in 2004.-List of winners:* 2004: Simon Amor * 2005: Orene Ai’i * 2006: Uale Mai * 2007: Afeleke Pelenise...
  
  : DJ Forbes
  DJ Forbes
  DJ Forbes is a New Zealand Rugby union player who is currently captain of the New Zealand Sevens team...
  
  ,
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Roelien Muller and Patrick Cotter
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Andre Watson
• IRB International Women's Personality of the Year: Carol Isherwood
• IRPA Special Merit Award: Agustín Pichot
  Agustín Pichot
  Agustín Pichot is a retired Argentine rugby union player, formerly captain of the Argentine team and the English club Bristol. In addition to Bristol, he played for French sides Stade Français and Racing Métro after leaving Argentine team CASI from San Isidro in 1997...
  
   
• IRB Development Award: TAG Rugby Development Trust and Martin Hansford
• IRPA Try of the Year: Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland
  Irish Rugby Football Union
  The Irish Rugby Football Union is the body managing rugby union in Ireland. The IRFU has its head office at 10/12 Lansdowne Road and home ground at Aviva Stadium, where Irish rugby union international matches are played...
  
  )

2007

• IRB International Player of the Year
  IRB International Player of the Year
  IRB Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International Rugby Board. It is awarded to the player who is adjudged to have been the best performer in rugby union internationals in the preceding season IRB Player of the Year is an accolade awarded annually by the International...
  
  : Bryan Habana
  Bryan Habana
  Bryan Gary Habana is a South African rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Western Province in the Currie Cup, the Stormers in Super 14, and the 2007 Rugby World Cup champions Springboks...
  
  ,
• IRB International Team of the Year
  IRB International Team of the Year
  The IRB International Team of the Year is awarded by the International Rugby Board in the autumn each year.-List of winners:* 2001: * 2002: * 2003: * 2004: * 2005: * 2006: * 2007: * 2008: * 2009: * 2010: * 2011: -List of other IRB Awards:...
  
  :
• IRB International Coach of the Year
  IRB International Coach of the Year
  The IRB International Coach of the Year is awarded by the International Rugby Board in the autumn each year.-List of winners:* 2001: Rod Macqueen * 2002: Bernard Laporte * 2003: Clive Woodward * 2004: Jake White * 2005: Graham Henry...
  
  : Jake White
  Jake White
  Jake White is a rugby union coach and former coach of the South Africa national rugby union team, the Springboks. His most notable achievements as coach include leading the Springboks to victory in 2007 Rugby World Cup and the 2004 Tri Nations title...
  
  ,
• IRB Under-19 Player of the Year: Robert Fruean,
• IRB Sevens Player of the Year: Afeleke Pelenise
  Afeleke Pelenise
  Afeleke Pelenise is a New Zealand Rugby union player who plays for the New Zealand Sevens team.-Career highlights:*New Zealand Sevens 2005–present*New Zealand Under 21s 2002*Canterbury 2005*Canterbury Development 2003, 2004...
  
  ,
• IRB Sevens Team of the Year:
• IRB Women's Personality of the Year: Sarah Corrigan
  Sarah Corrigan
  Sarah Corrigan is an Australian international rugby union referee.While going to Daramalan College in Canberra and playing rugby sevens, she decided to do a referee course, encouraged by her father. After the first appearance in a local under 11’s match in 1998, Corrigan received the B.A.R...
  
  , referee,   Australia
  Australian Rugby Union
  The Australian Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Australia. It was founded in 1949 and is a member of the International Rugby Board the sport's governing body. It consists of eight member unions, representing each state and territory...
  
  

  In 2007, she became the first woman ever to referee in an IRB 15-man tournament outside of the Women's Rugby World Cup

  Women's Rugby World Cup

  The Women's Rugby World Cup is the premier international competition in rugby union for women. The tournament is organised by the sport's governing body the International Rugby Board...

  
   when she took charge of the match between and in the 2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship

  2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship

  The International Rugby Board awarded the 2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship to the Irish Rugby Football Union and the Ulster branch hosted it. The Tournament, which took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland from 4-21 April, was split into two divisions of twelve teams...

  
  .

• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Dick Byres, retired,   Australia
  Australian Rugby Union
  The Australian Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Australia. It was founded in 1949 and is a member of the International Rugby Board the sport's governing body. It consists of eight member unions, representing each state and territory...
  
  

  After refereeing 14 Tests, he was a charter member of the IRB Referee Selector panel when it was formed in 1997, and was the longest-serving member of the panel when he retired in 2007.

• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: José María Epalza,

  After a playing career that saw him earn 38 caps

  Cap (sport)

  In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...

  
   for , and coaching the Spanish national team from 1986 to 1990, he went on to a distinguished career in rugby administration, serving in several key posts in the Spanish Rugby Federation and FIRA–AER

  FIRA - Association of European Rugby

  The FIRA - Association Européenne de Rugby is the administrative body for rugby union in Europe. It was formed in 1999 to promote, develop, organise and administer the game of rugby in Europe under the authority of the International Rugby Board .The predecessor to FIRA–AER was the Fédération...

  
  .

• Spirit of Rugby Award: Nicolas Pueta
  Nicolas Pueta
  Nicolás Pueta is a rugby player and motivational speaker in Argentina. He plays for Saint Andrew's Former Pupils Club in the Buenos Aires Rugby Union League.-History:...
  
  ,

  Pueta regularly plays club rugby despite having a congenital femoral deficiency that meant that his left leg never grew to the same size as his right one.

• IRPA Try of the Year: Takudzwa Ngwenya
  Takudzwa Ngwenya
  Takudzwa Ngwenya is a rugby union player who plays on the wing for the United States national rugby union team and French power Biarritz...
  
  ,
• IRPA Special Merit Award: Fabien Pelous
  Fabien Pelous
  Fabien Pelous is a retired French rugby union footballer. A lock who also occasionally played as a number eight and flanker, he played almost all of his professional career for Stade Toulousain, and is the all-time leader in appearances for the French national team...
  
  ,

  Pelous is the most-capped player in France history, and also the most-capped lock ever.

• IRB Development Award: Jacob Thompson,   Jamaica

  Ever since returning home to Jamaica from England in the 1970s, Thompson has tirelessly worked to promote the sport in his homeland. He has been president of the Jamaica Rugby Union since 1999.

• IRB Hall of Fame inductees:
  • Pierre de Coubertin
    Pierre de Coubertin
    Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin was a French educationalist and historian, founder of the International Olympic Committee, and is considered the father of the modern Olympic Games...
    
    ,
  • Wilson Whineray
    Wilson Whineray
    Sir Wilson James Whineray, KNZM, OBE is a former business executive and the longest-serving captain of the All Blacks, New Zealand's national rugby union team. Rugby writer T.P. McLean considered him the All Blacks' greatest captain.He first played for the All Blacks in 1957...
    
    ,
  • Danie Craven
    Danie Craven
    Daniël Hartman Craven , more famously known as Danie Craven or simply Doc Craven, is a former Western Province, Eastern Province, Northern Transvaal and Springbok rugby union player as well as arguably South Africa's best and best-known rugby administrator...
    
    ,   South Africa
    South African Rugby Union
    The South African Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in South Africa and is affiliated to the International Rugby Board...
    
    
  • Gareth Edwards
    Gareth Edwards
    Gareth Owen Edwards CBE is a former Welsh rugby union footballer who played scrum-half and has been described by the BBC as "arguably the greatest player ever to don a Welsh jersey"....
    
    ,
  • John Eales
    John Eales
    John Eales AM is an Australian former rugby union player and the most successful captain in the history of Australian rugby.-Early life:...
    
    ,

2006

• IRB International Player of the Year: Richie McCaw
  Richie McCaw
  Richard Hugh "Richie" McCaw is a New Zealand rugby union player, and is the current test captain. He plays in the openside flanker position for the New Zealand, Crusaders and Canterbury rugby teams...
  
  ,
• IRB International Team of the Year:
• IRB International Coach of the Year: Graham Henry
  Graham Henry
  Graham Henry is a New Zealand Rugby Union coach, and former head coach of the country's national team, the All Blacks. He played rugby union for Canterbury and cricket for Otago in the Plunket Shield. Henry was heavily criticized following the All Blacks quarterfinal exit at the 2007 Rugby World...
  
  ,
• IRB International U19 Player of the Year: Josh Holmes 
• IRB International U21 Player of the Year: Lionel Beauxis
  Lionel Beauxis
  Lionel Beauxis is a French rugby union player. He is tall and weighs . He plays at fly half for Stade Français....
  
   
• IRB International Sevens Team of the Year:
• IRB International Sevens Player of the Year: Uale Mai
  Uale Mai
  Uale Mai Vala is a rugby union player and currently plays for the country's national teams, Manu Samoa and Samoa Sevens. He is a former captain of the Samoa Sevens team which represent Samoa internationally in the IRB Sevens World Series. He is Sevens rugby's most capped player and is considered...
  
   
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Polly Miller
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Brian Lochore
  Brian Lochore
  Sir Brian James Lochore, ONZ, KNZM, OBE is a former rugby union footballer and coach who represented and captained the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks. He played at number 8 and lock, as well as captaining the side 46 times...
  
   
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Peter Marshall
  Peter Marshall
  Peter Marshall may refer to:* Peter Marshall , British author whose works include Demanding The Impossible: A History of Anarchism and Europe's Lost Civilization...
  
   
• IRB International Women's Personality of the Year: Margaret Alphonsi
• IRB Development Award: Mike Luke
• IRB Hall of Fame inductees: William Webb Ellis
  William Webb Ellis
  Rev. William Webb Ellis was an Anglican clergyman who is famous for allegedly being the inventor of Rugby football whilst a pupil at Rugby School....
  
   and Rugby School

2005

• IRB International Player of the Year: Daniel Carter 
• IRB International Team of the Year:
• IRB International Coach of the Year: Graham Henry
  Graham Henry
  Graham Henry is a New Zealand Rugby Union coach, and former head coach of the country's national team, the All Blacks. He played rugby union for Canterbury and cricket for Otago in the Plunket Shield. Henry was heavily criticized following the All Blacks quarterfinal exit at the 2007 Rugby World...
  
   
• IRB International U19 Player of the Year: Isaia Toeava
  Isaia Toeava
  Isaia "Ice" Toeava , is a professional rugby union player in New Zealand.-Early career:Toeava attended De La Salle College, Mangere East, he played alongside Taniela Moa in the school's First XV rugby team. He represented New Zealand U-19 where he was named the IRB's Under-19 2005 player of the year...
  
   
• IRB International U21 Player of the Year: Tatafu Polota-Nau
  Tatafu Polota-Nau
  - Biography :At 25 years of age, Polota-Nau achieved the rare feat of Test selection before playing a match at Super 14 level. His performances in his Test debut against England at Twickenham and in the win over Ireland at Lansdowne Road were impressive.v Signed to the New South Wales Waratahs...
  
   
• IRB International Sevens Team of the Year:
• IRB International Sevens Player of the Year: Orene Ai’i 
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Jean Pierre Rives
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Peter Crittle
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Paddy O'Brien
  Paddy O'Brien (rugby referee)
  Paddy O'Brien ONZM is a New Zealand international rugby union referee, and currently head of the International Rugby Board's Referee Board...
  
   
• IRB International Women's Personality of the Year: Farah Palmer
  Farah Palmer
  Farah Rangikoepa Palmer, ONZM is a lecturer in the Department of Management at Massey University and a former captain of New Zealand's women's national rugby union team, the Black Ferns.-Career:...
  
   
• IRB Development Award: Robert Antonin
• IRB Chairman's Award: Sir Tasker Watkins
  Tasker Watkins
  The Rt Hon Sir Tasker Watkins VC GBE PC was a Lord Justice of Appeal and deputy Lord Chief Justice...
  
   V.C., G.B.E, D.L

2004

• IRB International Player of the Year: Schalk Burger
  Schalk Burger
  Schalk Burger Jr. is a South African rugby union player. He plays the position of flanker in the Springbok rugby union team.-Father:...
  
   
• IRB International Team of the Year, in association with Sodexho:
• IRB International Coach of the Year: Jake White
  Jake White
  Jake White is a rugby union coach and former coach of the South Africa national rugby union team, the Springboks. His most notable achievements as coach include leading the Springboks to victory in 2007 Rugby World Cup and the 2004 Tri Nations title...
  
   
• IRB International U19 Player of the Year: Jeremy Thrush
  Jeremy Thrush
  Jeremy Thrush is a rugby union lock who played provincial rugby for Wellington Lions and super rugby for the Hurricanes....
  
   
• IRB International U21 Player of the Year in association with Waterford Crystal: Jerome Kaino
  Jerome Kaino
  Jerome Kaino is a professional New Zealand Rugby union player. In 2004, he was named IRB International Under-21 player of the year.-Early life:...
  
   
• IRB International Sevens Team of the Year:
• IRB International Sevens Player of the Year: Simon Amor
  Simon Amor
  Simon Daniel Edward Amor is an English rugby union footballer who plays at scrum-half or fly-half for London Scottish and is a former captain of the England Sevens squad...
  
   
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Jarrod Cunningham
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Ronnie Dawson Ireland
  Ireland national rugby union team
  The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
  
  
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Jim Fleming
• IRB International Women's Personality of the Year: Donna Kennedy 
• IRB Development Award: Guedel Ndiaye
• IRB Chairman's Award: Marcel Martin

2003

• IRB International Player of the Year in assoc. with Heineken: Jonny Wilkinson
  Jonny Wilkinson
  Jonathan Peter "Jonny" Wilkinson OBE is an English rugby union player and member of the England national team. Wilkinson rose to acclaim from 2001 to 2003, before and during the 2003 Rugby World Cup and was acknowledged as one of the world’s best rugby players...
  
   
• IRB International Team of the Year:
• IRB International Coach of the Year: Sir Clive Woodward 
• IRB International U19 Player of the Year: Jean Baptiste Payras
• IRB International U21 Player of the Year in assoc. with Waterford Crystal: Ben Atiga
  Ben Atiga
  Benjamin Alo Charles Atiga is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and plays centre and fullback. Atiga is a product of Auckland Grammar School. He has currently played only 1 test for the All Blacks, he got called into the 2003 All Blacks World Cup squad as an injury replacement and got his cap...
  
   
• IRB International Sevens Team of the Year:
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Michael & Linda Collinson
• IRB Award for Distinguished Service: Bob Stuart
• IRB Referee Distinguished Service Award: Derek Bevan
• IRB International Women's Personality of the Year: Kathy Flores
• IRB Development Award: Tan Theany & Philippe Monnin
• IRB Chairman's Award: Vernon Pugh

2002

• IRB International Player of the Year, in assoc. with Heineken: Fabien Galthié
  Fabien Galthié
  Fabien Galthié is a French rugby union coach and former player. His usual position was at scrum-half. He played much of his club rugby for Colomiers, and later on in his career, Stade Français. Galthié won 64 caps for France, including four Rugby World Cup appearances, as well as captaining the...
  
   
• IRB International Team of the Year:
• IRB International Coach of the Year: Bernard Laporte
  Bernard Laporte
  Bernard Laporte is a rugby union coach and former French Secretary of State for Sport. He is currently the head coach at Toulon, having taken over in 2011 from Philippe Saint-André, who had been named the new head coach of the France national team. Laporte himself is a former head coach of France,...
  
   
• IRB International U19 Player of the Year: Luke McAlister
  Luke McAlister
  Charles Luke McAlister is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays first five-eighths and second five-eighths ....
  
   
• IRB International U21 Player of the Year, in assoc. with Waterford: Pat Barnard
  Pat Barnard
  Pat Barnard is an English-qualified rugby union player for CA Brive in the Top 14.Pat Barnard's position of choice is as a prop....
  
   
• IRB International Sevens Team of the Year:
• IRB International Women's Player of the Year: Monique Hirovanaa
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Colin Hawke
• IRB Distinguished Services Award: Allan Hosie
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Old Christians Club
• IRB Development Award: John Broadfoot
• IRB Chairman's Awards: Bill Mclaren, George Pippos (posthumously)

2001

• IRB International Player of the Year, in assoc. with Heineken: Keith Wood
  Keith Wood
  Keith Gerard Mallinson Wood and educated at St Munchin's College, Limerick is a former international rugby union footballer who played hooker for Ireland, the Lions, Garryowen, Harlequins and Munster....
  
   Ireland
  Ireland national rugby union team
  The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
  
  
• IRB International Team of the Year:
• IRB International Coach of the Year: Rod Macqueen 
• IRB International Young Player of the Year: Gavin Henson
  Gavin Henson
  Gavin Lloyd Henson is a Welsh rugby union player, born in Pencoed, South Wales, currently playing for Cardiff Blues.He attracted much media attention as part of a Wales national team which achieved Grand Slams in the Six Nations Championship in 2005 and 2008...
  
   
• IRB International Women's Player of the Year: Shelley Rae
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Ed Morrison
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award: Tim Grandadge
• IRB Distinguished Service Award: Tom Kiernan (Ireland
  Irish Rugby Football Union
  The Irish Rugby Football Union is the body managing rugby union in Ireland. The IRFU has its head office at 10/12 Lansdowne Road and home ground at Aviva Stadium, where Irish rugby union international matches are played...
  
  )
• IRB Development Award: Jorge Brasceras
• IRB Chairman's Awards: Kath McLean, Sir Terry McLean, Albert Ferrasse, John Eales
  John Eales
  John Eales AM is an Australian former rugby union player and the most successful captain in the history of Australian rugby.-Early life:...