IRB announce 2005 Award nominees

New Zealand take on Wales for team honours

Three All Blacks and two Springboks make up the list of nominees for the 2005 IRB Player of the Year award.

New Zealand and South Africa dominate the nominations, with the Kiwis receiving nine nominations and South Africa six.

All Black captain Tana Umaga, fly-half Dan Carter and flank Richie McCaw go up against South Africa wing Bryan Habana and lock Victor Matfield for the prestigious prize which will be presented at the IRB's annual ceremony.

New Zealand and Wales have been short-listed for Team of the Year, with the two teams' respective coaches - Graham Henry and Mike Ruddock - singled out as the two final candidates for Coach of the Year.

The gala event, to be at the Pavillon d'Armenonville in Paris on November 27, rewards the highest achievements in the sport from the end of the 2004 November internationals until the start of the corresponding fixtures in 2005, and also honours outstanding past contribution to rugby.

Where awards categories have nominees, they have been short-listed by the Awards' independent panel of judges, made up of former internationals with 503 caps between them - François Pienaar, Michael Jones, Fabien Galthie, Keith Wood, Gavin Hastings, Jonathan Davies, Dan Lyle and Federico Mendez and chairman John Eales.

South Africa enjoyed a clean sweep of the 2004 IRB awards in 2004 as Schalk Burger picked up Player of the Year, Jake White was named Coach of the Year and South Africa won Team of the Year.

Following New Zealand's demolition of the British & Irish Lions and victory in the 2005 Tri-Nations, it is hard to see any of this year's honours escaping the clutches of the men in black.

IRB NOMINATIONS:

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Daniel Carter (NZL)
Tana Umaga (NZL)
Richie McCaw (NZL)
Victor Matfield (RSA)
Bryan Habana (RSA)

SEVENS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Orene Ai'i (NZL)
Amasio Valence (NZL)
Neumi Nanuku (FIJ)

U21 PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tatufu Polota-Nau (AUS)
Derick Kuun (RSA)
Thabang Molefe (RSA)

U19 PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Isaia Toeava (NZL)
Alistair Hargreaves (RSA)
Mahlatse Ralepelle (RSA)

REMAINING CATEGORIES
(Nominations - where appropriate - are yet to be finalised)

Team of the Year
Coach of the Year
Sevens Team of the Year
Referees Award
Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service
Development Award
Spirit of Rugby Award
Women's Personality of the Year