Cape Town - Rugby World Cup-winning flyhalf Dan Carter has been named 2015 BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year.
According to the allblacks website, Carter beat Novak Djokovic, Katie Ledecky, Usain Bolt, Jordan Spieth and Serena Williams after the award was decided by a public vote for the first time.
It caps a fine year for Carter who ended his international career as the highest points scorer of all-time while also winning the World Rugby Player of the Year award for the third time.
"I'm thrilled to have been voted BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year by the UK public," Carter said.
"It's been an incredible year for me on British soil and the support has been phenomenal.
"It was an incredibly competitive shortlist and I'm honour to have been recognised alongside these great sportsmen and women from around the world," he said.
The award will be presented in Belfast on Sunday night, the first time it has been held in Northern Ireland.
The man of the match in the final of the World Cup when New Zealand beat Australia 34-17, Carter landed 19 points, including a key dropped goal and long range penalty goal to end a possible Australian resurgence in the second half of the game.