IRB nominate Steyn, Du Preez

Johannesburg - Two Springbok stars, Fourie du Preez and Frans Steyn, have made the shortlist of nominations for the IRB Player of the Year 2009, which will be announced during the final weekend of the November Tests.

The winner of this prestigious award, which was won by Schalk Burger in 2004 and Bryan Habana in 2007, will be announced together with the IRB Coach of the Year and IRB Team of the Year.

Apart from Du Preez and Frans Steyn, who starred as the Springboks won the Castle South Africa 2009 Lions Series and the Vodacom Tri-Nations, other nominees include two players from Ireland and one each from England, Australia and New Zealand.

The other nominees are Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll and Jamie Heaslip, Australia’s Matt Giteau, Tom Croft of England and Richie McCaw of New Zealand.

“The IRB Player of the Year Award is the ultimate accolade for a player and takes into account performances in all internationals played during the year, including the Six Nations, British & Irish Lions Test Series, Tri-Nations and the June and November Tests,” said IRB Chairperson Bernard Lapasset in an official IRB release.

“The list of past winners includes the iconic names of the decade - Jonny Wilkinson, Schalk Burger, Richie McCaw, Fabien Galthié, Dan Carter, Bryan Habana and Keith Wood have all been worthy recipients of the Award. Richie McCaw could become the first player to receive the accolade twice.”

The nominees were selected by the IRB Awards independent panel of judges, comprising former internationals with over 500 Test caps between them. Will Greenwood, Gavin Hastings, Raphaël Ibanez, Francois Pienaar, Agustin Pichot, Scott Quinnell, Tana Umaga, Paul Wallace and convenor John Eales watched over 60 hours of action from 46 matches, awarding points to the three players they thought stood out in each match.

“Now that the shortlist has been selected the panel will reconvene at the completion of the November Tests when the IRB Player of the Year will be selected. The announcement will be made at the conclusion of the final weekend of matches,” added Lapasset.

The Player of the Year Award is the sixth of the 13 coveted IRB Awards in association with Emirates Airline to be presented in 2009.

In May, England captain Ollie Phillips was named IRB Sevens Player of the Year, while New Zealand captain Aaron Cruden was named IRB Junior Player of the Year in June. Australia’s Debby Hodgkinson was named IRB Women’s Personality of the Year in August and L'Aquilla Rugby Club received the Spirit of Rugby Award in September. This month, Francis Palmade received the IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service.

In a new format for the IRB Awards in association with Emirates Airline, winners will be named throughout the year, culminating in the announcement of the prestigious IRB Player, Coach and Team of the Year in November.