Rugby’s Greatest of the Decade Announced
World Rugby celebrates players in a special edition of the annual awards ceremony
Nearly 400,000 votes were cast by the public in October
Richie McCaw and Jessy Trémoulière take home 15s Player of the Decade Awards
Jamie Heaslip and Portia Woodman tries voted as best of the decade
Two stellar 15s Teams of the Decade selected by the World Rugby Awards panel highlight the best performers on the international stage since 2010
2020 aside, it has been an incredible ten years in the sport. This year, World Rugby hosted a special awards ceremony celebrating all that rugby has achieved in the past decade. Take a look at the winners below.
We start with the Women’s 15s Team of the Decade
The World Rugby Women’s 15s Team of the Decade was selected by the panel that traditionally determines the annual accolade and, after much debate, features eight players from England, six from New Zealand and one from France. Fourteen of the team have won at least one Rugby World Cup, the exception being number eight Safi N’Diaye who has two bronze medals to her name.
Rochelle Clark (ENG)
Fiao’o Faamausili (NZL)
Sophie Hemming (ENG)
Eloise Blackwell (NZL)
Tamara Taylor (ENG)
Linda Itunu (NZL)
Maggie Alphonsi (ENG)
Safi N’Diaye (FRA)
Kendra Cocksedge (NZL)
Katy Daley-Mclean (ENG)
Portia Woodman (NZL)
Kelly Brazier (NZL)
Emily Scarratt (ENG)
Lydia Thompson (ENG)
Danielle Waterman (ENG)
Frenchwoman Jessy Trémoulière came away with the prestigious Player of the Decade award.
"It's the supreme title,” says Jessy. “I think there is no title that can go further. It reminds me of my whole career, my early childhood until now, everything I have experienced with my clubs, my teammates, bad and good times. It brings back the memories and it's nice to think about all that, thanks to this title."
Over to the Men’s 15s
Six nations are represented in the World Rugby Men’s 15s Team of the Decade in association with Mastercard selected by the star-studded panel with seven players from New Zealand, three from South Africa, two from Ireland and one each from Australia, Italy and Wales. The Team of the Decade boasts a total of 1,637 test caps between them.
Tendai Mtawarira (RSA)
Bismarck du Plessis (RSA)
Owen Franks (NZL)
Brodie Retallick (NZL)
Sam Whitelock (NZL)
David Pocock (AUS)
Richie McCaw (NZL)
Sergio Parisse (ITA)
Conor Murray (IRE)
Dan Carter (NZL)
Bryan Habana (RSA)
Ma’a Nonu (NZL)
Brian O’Driscoll (IRE)
George North (WAL)
Ben Smith (NZL)
Nothing says ultimate greatness than winning the Player of the Decade Award after only playing half of the decade, and that’s exactly what Ritchie McCaw came away with.
“To be able to get an award like this is pretty humbling,” said the All Blacks Flanker. “When you’re in a team sport you rely on a good bunch of team-mates around you to have any sort of success, so I guess I was lucky for that. And, probably quite lucky [because] I only played half the decade.”
Sir Bill Beaumont closed off the proceedings. “First and foremost, I am deeply proud of how the global rugby family has reacted to what has been an exceptionally challenging year,” said the World Rugby Chairman. “The rugby heroes featured in the ceremony and all the others that provided outstanding service during the pandemic are an inspiration to us all. This special edition of the World Rugby Awards is certainly a tribute to their resilience and solidarity.”
“I would like to congratulate all tonight’s recipients for their outstanding contribution to our game over the last decade, and for some of them, for many years to come. They are already part of rugby’s history and it is my great privilege to acknowledge their legacy with these awards.”
