Andy Farrell & David McHugh Among World Rugby Awards Winners

Ireland men’s Head Coach Andy Farrell and Munster Association Of Referees (MAR) member David McHugh were among the award winners at the weekend’s World Rugby Awards ceremony in Paris.

Farrell was named World Rugby Coach of the Year, recognising his achievement in leading Ireland’s to a Six Nations Grand Slam and top spot in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings for 15 months.

David McHugh. Photo Credit: Munster Rugby

Farrell took Ireland to number one in the rankings and masterminding a Six Nations Grand Slam amid a record 16-match winning streak that only came to an end with a painful defeat to New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup 2023 quarter-finals.

McHugh’s dedication and contribution to the game of rugby spans more than 20 years, from his decade as an international referee taking charge of 28 tests and spanning three Rugby World Cups between 1995 and 2003, to his role as a mentor for the next generations of match officials, including the likes of Joy Neville and John Lacey in Ireland and Nika Amashukeli in Georgia.

There was also another familiar face among Saturday’s World Cup final celebrations with Killarney RFC man and former Munster Rugby Analyst Paddy Sullivan who was an analyst for the Springboks throughout the Rugby World Cup campaign.

Sullivan, who is a full-time analysist with Montpellier, was an analyst with the province between 2013 and 2015 before making the move to Pau in France where he spent six years before his current role with 2021/22 Top 14 champions.

Full list of World Rugby Awards 2023 winners

• World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year in partnership with Mastercard – Ardie Savea (New Zealand)
• World Rugby Coach of the Year – Andy Farrell (Ireland)
• World Rugby Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year in partnership with Tudor – Mark Tele’a (New Zealand)
• World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year in partnership with HSBC – Rodrigo Isgro (Argentina)
• World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year in partnership with HSBC – Tyla Nathan-Wong (New Zealand)
• World Rugby Referee Award – David McHugh (Ireland)
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service – George Nijaradze (Georgia)
• Rugby for All Award – SOS Kit Aid
• International Rugby Players Special Merit Award – John Smit (South Africa)
• International Rugby Players Men’s Try of the Year – Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland)
• World Rugby Hall of Fame inductees: Daniel Carter (New Zealand), Thierry Dusautoir (France), George Smith (Australia), Juan Martín Hernández (Argentina), Bryan Habana (South Africa).