South Africa flanker Schalk Burger won the player-of-the year award on Monday as the Springboks dominated the International Rugby Board’s top honours.
The reigning Tri-Nations champions beat out France for the team-of-the year award and Jake White was named coach of the year.
”Schalk’s emergence as a major force has meant a lot to South African rugby,” White said.
”He’s become to South African rugby what Jonty Rhodes was to South African cricket. It’s amazing what he has achieved in such a short time so far in his international career.”
Burger topped a list of candidates that included Ireland centre Gordon D’Arcy, the Six Nations player of the year, and Australian Matt Giteau.
The South African players, in Britain for their autumn tests, accepted the team award collectively at the ceremony in London on Sunday night.
England, which swept the awards last year after winning the World Cup, took home only one major award this year when sevens captain Simon Amor was named sevens player of the year.
Awards list:
International Player of the Year: Schalk Burger (South Africa)
International Team of the Year: South Africa
International Coach of the Year: Jake White (South Africa)
International U19 Player of the Year: Jeremy Thrush (New
Zealand)
International U21 Player of the Year: Jerome Kaino (New Zealand)
International Sevens Team of the Year: New Zealand
International Sevens Player of the Year: Simon Amor (England)
Spirit of Rugby Award: Jarrod Cunningham
Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Ronnie Dawson
Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Jim Fleming
International Women’s Personality of the Year: Donna Kennedy
Development Award: Guedel Ndiaye
IRB Chairman’s Award: Marcel Martin – Sapa-AP