International Rugby Board 2007 - Award Winners

South Africa swept the board at the IRB Awards taking Best Player, Best Coach and Best Team of the Year  2007.

South Africa's Bryan Habana  won the IRB Player of the Year Award at the 2007.   Habana has scored 13 tries in 10 internationals during 2007, including four tries during RWC 2007.   South Africa Head Coach Jake White won the IRB Coach of the Year award and South Africa won the Team of the year also.

The winners were selected by the Awards' independent panel of judges, made up of former internationals with over 500 caps between them. The Awards panel deliberated on every major Test match played this year starting with the first Six Nations match and finishing with the IRB Rugby World Cup final.

The other nominees who missed out for player of the year were:-
Felipe Contepomi (ARG)
Juan Martin Hernandez (ARG)
Yannick Jauzion (FRA)
Richie McCaw (NZL)

IRB Hall of Fame

Following a public vote on www.irb.com and the deliberations of the Hall of Fame Induction Panel,  five greats from the Game have been inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame. They are Pierre de Coubertin, Wilson Whineary, Dr Danny Craven, Gareth Edwards and John Eales.

Gareth Edwards 

Full list of IRB Awards winners

IRB Player of the Year - Bryan Habana, South Africa
IRB Team of the Year - South Africa
IRB Coach of the Year - Jake White, South Africa
IRB Under 19 Player of the Year - Robert Fruean, New Zealand
IRB Sevens Team of the Year - New Zealand
IRB Sevens Player of the Year - Afeleke Pelenise, New Zealand
IRB Women's Personality of the Year - Sarah Corrigan
IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service - Dick Byres
Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service - Jose Maria Epalza
IRB Development Award - Jacob Thompson
Spirit of Rugby Award - Nicolas Pueta
IRPA Try of the Year - Takudzwa Ngwenya, USA
IRPA Special Merit Award - Fabien Pelous, France
IRB Hall of Fame inductees - Pierre de Coubertin, Wilson Whineary, Dr Danny Craven, Gareth Edwards, John Eales

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