Leinster’s Contepomi Nominated For IRB Player Of The Year Award
Leinster and Argentina centre Felipe Contepomi has today been confirmed as one of the five nominess for the prestigious IRB World Player of the Year award. His countryman Juan Martin Hernandez has also been nominated.
The five short-listed nominees were unveiled at a media conference in Paris following the conclusion of the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals. Contepomi, New Zealand flanker and 2006 IRB Player of the Year Richie McCaw, South Africa winger Bryan Habana, French centre Yannick Jauzion and Pumas fly-half Hernandez are the five players in the running for the award.
The IRB Awards ceremony, held in association with Emirates Airline, is being held this year at the Pavilion d’Armenonville in Paris’ Allée de Longchamp on Sunday, October 21.
International Rugby Board chairman Dr. Syd Millar said: “The IRB Player of the Year Award is the ultimate accolade for a player to receive in his career. It takes on added significance in a Rugby World Cup year and takes into account player performances in all major internationals including matches in the RBS Six Nations championship, Tri-Nations series, the June International series and of course the tournament.
“The list of past winners of the award is very impressive and comprises players of the calibre of Schalk Burger, Dan Carter, Jonny Wilkinson, Richie McCaw, Fabien Galthie and Keith Wood.”
The nominees were selected by the Awards’ independent panel of judges, made up of former internationals with over 500 caps between them. The Awards panel, which also votes on the IRB Coach and Team of the Year during the same period, has deliberated on every major Test match played this year starting with the first Six Nations match and finishing with the World Cup final.
Francois Pienaar, Michael Jones, Fabien Galthie, Keith Wood, Gavin Hastings, Will Greenwood, Jonathan Davies, Dan Lyle, Federico Mendez and convener John Eales have watched over 80 matches between them and in the 110 hours of action they awarded points to three players in every match.
Former Irish international Millar added: “With the shortlist of five nominees now selected, the panel will reconvene immediately after the World Cup final when the IRB Player of the Year for 2007 will be selected. The announcement will be made at the IRB Awards the day after the final in Paris, which is the biggest and most prestigious annual celebration of the international game.”
The IRB World Player of the Year is one of 12 categories of awards that include the IRB Coach of the Year, IRB Team of the Year, IRB Sevens Player of the Year, IRB Sevens Team of the Year and IRB Women’s Personality of the Year. The event also recognises age-grade rugby and there is a special Spirit of Rugby award which honours an outstanding contribution to the game.