Tadhg Furlong named in World Rugby team of the year

South Africa have the most representatives with five in the lineup and three All Blacks

Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong in action against the All Blacks. Photo: Bryan Keane/Inpho

Wed Dec 08 2021 - 13:26

The Leinster, Ireland and Lions tighthead Tadhg Furlong is the sole Irish player to have been named on World Rugby’s ‘Dream Team of the Year’.

The team, which is drawn from seven countries, features five South African players, along with three All Blacks, two Australians and one player each from England, France, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The team, which has a combined haul of 850 caps, was selected by the World Rugby Awards panel, which includes former Ireland internationals Brian O’Driscoll and Fiona Coghlan, alongside Maggie Alphonsi, Thierry Dusautoir, George Gregan, Richie McCaw, Melodie Robinson, John Smit and Clive Woodward.

The team also includes all four players who have been shortlisted for the Player of the Year award, namely Australian pair Michael Hooper and Samu Kerevi, France’s Antoine Dupont and England’s Maro Itoje.

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The Women’s Dream Team of the Year will be announced later today, with the winners of the men’s and women’s 15s Player of the Year awards to be announced on Friday.

England’s women coach Simon Middleton was named World Rugby Coach of the Year, New Zealand’s Will Jordan won Breakthrough Player of the Year, and Damien Penaud’s try for France against Scotland in the Six Nations was voted Men’s Try of the Year.

The electric All Blacks winger Will Jordan has been named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year 2021.

One of a number of young wingers to announce their arrival on the world stage over the last 12 months, Will Jordan caught the eye not just for his try-scoring exploits for the All Blacks but also his work off the ball, unlocking defences for team-mates with regularity.

A record of 15 tries in 11 Tests in 2021, including five against Tonga and a hat-trick against USA saw him become the second-fastest All Black to reach 15 tries.

Jordan only failed to score in two matches and given his phenomenal strike-rate, had he been available for all 15 tests that the All Blacks played in 2021, it’s likely he would have got the two tries he needed to set a new All Blacks record. He is the third All Black to win this award after Nehe Milner-Skudder (2015) and Rieko Ioane (2017).

The others shortlisted for this award were Andrew Kellaway (Australia), Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales), Marcus Smith (England).

The World Rugby Referee Award went to Andrew Cole of Australia.