The World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year is an award presented annually by World Rugby at the World Rugby Awards. It is given to honour "the achievements of those involved at the highest level of the world game on the field". First presented in 2001, it was initially named the IRB International Player of the Year; from 2007 until 2014 it was the IRB Player of the Year and in 2014 it was titled World Rugby Player of the Year, before being given its current name in 2016.

The winner receives a trophy at an annual awards ceremony. The voting panel select a list of nominees who can then be voted for by players, coaches, media representatives and the public via Twitter. Informed by the vote, the panel then select the winner. the voting panel comprises John Smit, George Gregan, Melodie Robinson, Maggie Alphonsi, Clive Woodward, Brian O'Driscoll, Richie McCaw, Thierry Dusautoir and Fiona Coghlan.

The first winner of the award was Ireland hooker Keith Wood. The winner for 2025 is South African hooker Malcolm Marx. New Zealand players have received the most awards, winning ten times. Two players have won three times – flanker Richie McCaw (2006, 2009 and 2010) and fly-half Dan Carter (2005, 2012 and 2015). Nominations for the award are dominated by players from Tier 1 nations; only United States' Joe Taufete'e has ever been nominated from a Tier 2 side. Flankers have won the award most often, with eight wins, followed by fly-halves with seven.

Winners and nominees +Winners and nominees of the World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year Year Image Winner Country Position Other nominees 2001 Hooker – George Gregan (Scrum-half) – George Smith (Flanker) – Jonny Wilkinson (Fly-half) – Brian O'Driscoll (Centre) 2002 Scrum-half – Jason Robinson (Wing) – Brian O'Driscoll (Centre) – Richie McCaw (Flanker) – Joe van Niekerk (Flanker) 2003 Fly-half – Phil Waugh (Flanker) – Steve Thompson (Hooker) – Imanol Harinordoquy (Number 8) – Richie McCaw (Flanker) 2004 Flanker – Matt Giteau (Centre) – Serge Betsen (Flanker) – Gordon D'Arcy (Centre) – Marius Joubert (Centre) 2005 Fly-half – Richie McCaw (Flanker) – Tana Umaga (Centre) – Bryan Habana (Wing) – Victor Matfield (Lock) 2006 Flanker – Chris Latham (Full-back) – Paul O'Connell (Lock) – Dan Carter (Fly-half) – Fourie du Preez (Scrum-half) 2007 Wing – Felipe Contepomi (Centre) – Juan Martín Hernández (Fly-half) – Yannick Jauzion (Centre) – Richie McCaw (Flanker) 2008 Wing – Sergio Parisse (Number 8) – Dan Carter (Fly-half) – Mike Blair (Scrum-half) – Ryan Jones (Number 8) 2009 Flanker – Matt Giteau (Fly-half) – Tom Croft (Flanker) – Jamie Heaslip (Number 8) – Brian O'Driscoll (Centre) – Fourie du Preez (Scrum-half) – François Steyn (Centre) 2010 Flanker – Kurtley Beale (Centre) – David Pocock (Flanker) – Imanol Harinordoquy (Number 8) – Mils Muliaina (Full-back) – Victor Matfield (Lock) 2011 Flanker – Will Genia (Scrum-half) – David Pocock (Flanker) – Jerome Kaino (Flanker) – Ma'a Nonu (Centre) – Piri Weepu (Scrum-half) 2012 Fly-half – Owen Farrell (Fly-half) – Frédéric Michalak (Fly-half) – Richie McCaw (Flanker) 2013 Number 8 – Sergio Parisse (Number 8) – Ben Smith (Full-back) – Eben Etzebeth (Lock) – Leigh Halfpenny (Full-back) 2014 Lock – Johnny Sexton (Fly-half) – Julian Savea (Wing) – Willie le Roux (Full-back) – Duane Vermeulen (Number 8) 2015 Fly-half – Michael Hooper (Flanker) – David Pocock (Flanker) – Julian Savea (Wing) – Greig Laidlaw (Scrum-half) – Alun Wyn Jones (Lock) 2016 Fly-half – Owen Farrell (Fly-half) – Maro Itoje (Lock) – Billy Vunipola (Number 8) – Jamie Heaslip (Number 8) – Dane Coles (Hooker) 2017 Fly-half – Israel Folau (Full-back) – Owen Farrell (Fly-half) – Maro Itoje (Lock) – Rieko Ioane (Wing) 2018 Fly-half – Beauden Barrett (Fly-half) – Rieko Ioane (Wing) – Faf de Klerk (Scrum-half) – Malcolm Marx (Hooker) 2019 Flanker – Tom Curry (Flanker) – Ardie Savea (Flanker) – Cheslin Kolbe (Wing) – Joe Taufete'e (Hooker) – Alun Wyn Jones (Lock) 2020Not Awarded2021 Scrum-half – Michael Hooper (Flanker) – Maro Itoje (Lock) – Samu Kerevi (Centre)2022 Flanker – Lukhanyo Am (Centre) – Antoine Dupont (Scrum-half) – Johnny Sexton (Fly-half)2023 Number 8 – Eben Etzebeth (Lock) – Antoine Dupont (Scrum-half) – Bundee Aki (Centre)2024 Flanker – Caelan Doris (Number 8) – Eben Etzebeth (Lock) – Cheslin Kolbe (Wing) 2025 Hooker – Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Wing) – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Flanker) – Ox Nche (Prop)

Statistics Correct as of the 2024 awards

+ Multiple wins 3 Dan Carter Richie McCaw 2 Beauden Barrett Pieter-Steph du Toit

+ Wins by position 8 Flanker 7 Fly-half 2 Hooker Number 8 Scrum-half Wing 1 Lock

+ Multiple nominations including wins 8 Richie McCaw 5 Dan Carter 3 Beauden Barrett Antoine Dupont Pieter-Steph du Toit Eben Etzebeth Owen Farrell Maro Itoje Brian O'Driscoll David Pocock Johnny Sexton 2 Fourie du Preez Matt Giteau Bryan Habana Imanol Harinordoquy Jamie Heaslip Michael Hooper Rieko Ioane Alun Wyn Jones Cheslin Kolbe Malcolm Marx Victor Matfield Sergio Parisse Ardie Savea Julian Savea Jonny Wilkinson

By country

+ Winners by country 11 5 3 1

+ Nominations including wins by country 31 25 15 14 13 9 5 2 1

By club

+ Multiple wins 7 Crusaders 3 Hurricanes 2 Leinster Toulouse Stormers

+ Multiple nominations including wins 14 Crusaders 11 Hurricanes Leinster 7 Saracens 6 Toulouse Bulls 5 Stormers Sharks 4 Stade Français Ospreys Brumbies Waratahs 3 Blues Force Sale Sharks 2 Chiefs Newcastle Falcons Toyota Verblitz Biarritz Lions Reds Tokyo Sungoliath

References

External links World Rugby Awards