Cape Town - No South Africans made the cut when World Rugby announced its candidates for player of the year award on Monday.
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The candidates nominated are All Blacks Beauden Barrett (last year’s winner) and Rieko Ioane, the England and Lions duo of Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje, as well as Australia's Israel Folau.
The shortlist was selected by the new star-studded World Rugby awards panel comprising Rugby World Cup winners Richie McCaw, John Smit, George Gregan, Maggie Alphonsi and former England coach Clive Woodward, alongside Brian O’Driscoll, Fabien Galthié and Agustín Pichot.
Voting was opened on Monday and fans have the opportunity to vote on World Rugby’s official website until midnight on Sunday, November 19.
Once voting has concluded the panel will consider the winner of the prestigious award which will be presented at the World Rugby Awards at the Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo on November 26.
Meanwhile on the women’s side, New Zealand's Portia Woodman and Kelly Brazier - two of the stars of the Black Ferns' World Cup triumph in Ireland in August - are among the nominees along with France's Romane Menager and Safi N'Diaye, with England's Lydia Thompson completing the shortlist.
Previous World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year Award winners:
2016 – Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
2015 – Dan Carter (New Zealand)
2014 – Brodie Retallick (New Zealand)
2013 – Kieran Read (New Zealand)
2012 – Dan Carter (New Zealand)
2011 – Thierry Dusautoir (France)
2010 – Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
2009 – Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
2008 – Shane Williams (Wales)
2007 – Bryan Habana (South Africa)
2006 – Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
2005 – Dan Carter (New Zealand)
2004 – Schalk Burger (South Africa)
2003 – Jonny Wilkinson (England)
2002 – Fabien Galthié (France)
2001 – Keith Wood (Ireland)
Previous World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year Award winners:
2016 – Sarah Hunter (England)
2015 – Kendra Cocksedge (New Zealand)
2014 – Magali Harvey (Canada)
2012 – Michaela Staniford (England)
2011 – Ruth Mitchell
2010 – Carla Hohepa (New Zealand)
2009 – Debby Hodgkinson (Australia)
2008 – Carol Isherwood (England)
2007 – Sarah Corrigan (Australia)
2006 – Maggie Alphonsi (England)
2005 – Farah Palmer (New Zealand)
2004 – Donna Kennedy (Scotland)
2003 – Kathy Flores (USA)
2002 – Monique Hirovanaa (New Zealand)
2001 – Shelley Rae (England)