International Rugby
Sexton up for IRB Player of the Year
ESPN Staff
November 12, 2014
Johnny Sexton helped Ireland to their win over South Africa last weekend © Getty Images
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Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton is the sole northern hemisphere player to get the nod on the five-man shortlist for IRB Player of the Year. Previous Player of the Year Winners
Sexton is joined by South Africa's fullback Willie le Roux and No.8 Duane Vermeulen while New Zealand lock Brodie Retallick and winger Julian Savea also get the nod. Sexton shone for Ireland on their charge to the 2014 Six Nations and played a key role in their win over South Africa last weekend while Le Roux and Vermeulen have been key cogs in the Springboks side that ended the All Blacks' unbeaten run. For Savea, he has continued his remarkable try-scoring form in 2014 while Retallick has established himself as one of the world's best second-rows. IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "The IRB World Rugby Player of the Year is one of the most prestigious accolades in rugby and previous winners have all made a significant contribution to the international game over the past decade, inspiring new generations of players and fans. "All of these nominees have enjoyed stellar years and the focus on who will claim this accolade will add an extra dimension to the remaining November Tests." The panel who picked the shortlist was chaired by John Eales with Will Greenwood, Gavin Hastings, Raphaël Ibanez, Francois Pienaar, Agustín Pichot, Scott Quinnell, Tana Umaga and Paul Wallace all putting forward their suggestions. "As always the panellists' independent deliberations have produced a worthy list of contenders among a strong field," Eales said. "It has been a year where we have seen a levelling in competition with an unpredictability in so many games now. With a spread of a couple of outside backs, a fly-half, a back-rower and a lock in contention it is not going to be an easy selection to determine the Player of the Year."
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