International Rugby Players Special Merit Award

IRP Special Merit Award
Date2007 (2007)
Presented byWorld Rugby
First award2007
Currently held by Vickii Cornborough (2024)

The International Rugby Players Special Merit Award is presented at the World Rugby Awards by World Rugby. The award is presented to a player by fellow players in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the professional game on and off the field. The recipient of the award is selected by the International Rugby Players organization.[1]

Recipients

Year Recipients Refs
2007 Fabien Pelous
2008 Agustín Pichot
2011 George Smith
2015 Brian O'Driscoll
Nathan Sharpe
[2][3]
2016 Jean de Villiers [4]
2017 Richie McCaw
Rachael Burford
2018 DJ Forbes
Stephen Moore
2019 Jamie Heaslip [5][6]
2022 Bryan Habana [7]
2023 John Smit [8]
2024 Vickii Cornborough [9]

References

  1. ^ Wright, Jared (2024-10-24). "2024 World Rugby Awards: Star-studded voting panels, criteria and date confirmed for the prestigious event". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  2. ^ "O'Driscoll Receives IRPA Special Merit Award". Leinster Rugby. 2015-11-02. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  3. ^ "O'Driscoll Honoured With IRPA Special Merit Award". Irish Rugby. 2015-11-02. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  4. ^ "SARU congratulates World Rugby award winners". Sport. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  5. ^ "Heaslip wins IRP Special Merit honour at World Rugby Awards". Leinster Rugby. 2019-11-04. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  6. ^ "Watch: Jamie Heaslip Picks Up Special Merit At The World Rugby Awards". Extra.ie. 2019-11-04. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  7. ^ "Josh van der Flier and Ruahei Demant named World Rugby Players of the Year 2022". www.world.rugby. 2022-11-20. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  8. ^ "Ardie Savea named World Rugby Men's Player of the Year 2023". www.world.rugby. 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  9. ^ "Ellie Kildunne, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Maddison Levi and Antoine Dupont named World Rugby Players of the Year". World Rugby. 2024-11-24. Retrieved 2024-11-25.