Mike Catt has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Francis Baron | Mike Catt

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Teams: England | London Irish

London Irish attack coach Mike Catt has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List.

The former England utility back won the Rugby World Cup in 2003 and was the man who kicked the ball dead to bring an end to an epic final clash with Australia that was won by Jonny Wilkinson's now-iconic winning drop-goal against Australia.

He played in a second final four years later, aged 36, and became the oldest player to do so, although this time England were on the losing end against the country of Catt's birth, South Africa.

He finally hung up his boots in 2010, having turned out for the Exiles at the tail end of last season, as he had done during their march to the Premiership final in 2009, when he secured another record as the oldest player to grace that stage. The greater part of his career was spent with Bath, with whom he won the Heineken Cup in 1998.

Catt won 75 caps for England in a career that spanned the amateur and professional eras, also winning a Test cap for the British & Irish Lions on their victorious tour of South Africa in 1997.

"I am delighted and honoured to have been awarded an OBE," said Catt, who was awarded an MBE in the wake of England's World Cup triumph seven years ago. "I have been fortunate to have had an enjoyable and successful career in rugby and to now be recognised in such a way makes me feel very privileged.

"I would like to thank my family along with everyone who has supported and encouraged me throughout my career."

Former Rugby Football Union chief executive Francis Baron is also among the sporting figures to receive an award. Baron, who stepped down from the role in 2010 after a 12-year spell in charge that saw him transform rugby union's commercial success, has been awarded a CBE.