The International Rugby Players Special Merit Award is presented at the World Rugby Awards by World Rugby. The award is presented to a player by fellow players in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the professional game on and off the field. The recipient of the award is selected by the International Rugby Players organization.[1]
| IRP Special Merit Award | |
|---|---|
| Date | 2007 |
| Presented by | World Rugby |
| First awarded | 2007 |
| Currently held by |  John Smit (2023) |
Recipients
edit| Year | Recipients | Refs |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 |  Fabien Pelous
|
|
| 2008 |  Agustín Pichot
|
|
| 2011 |  George Smith
|
|
| 2015 |  Brian O'Driscoll Nathan Sharpe
|
[2][3] |
| 2016 | Jean de Villiers
|
[4] |
| 2017 |  Richie McCaw Rachael Burford
|
|
| 2018 | DJ Forbes Stephen Moore
|
|
| 2019 | Jamie Heaslip
|
[5][6] |
| 2022 | Bryan Habana
|
[7] |
| 2023 | John Smit
|
[8] |
| 2024 | TBD |
References
edit- ^ Wright, Jared (2024-10-24). "2024 World Rugby Awards: Star-studded voting panels, criteria and date confirmed for the prestigious event". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
- ^ "O'Driscoll Receives IRPA Special Merit Award". Leinster Rugby. 2015-11-02. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
- ^ "O'Driscoll Honoured With IRPA Special Merit Award". Irish Rugby. 2015-11-02. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
- ^ "SARU congratulates World Rugby award winners". Sport. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
- ^ "Heaslip wins IRP Special Merit honour at World Rugby Awards". Leinster Rugby. 2019-11-04. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
- ^ "Watch: Jamie Heaslip Picks Up Special Merit At The World Rugby Awards". Extra.ie. 2019-11-04. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
- ^ "Josh van der Flier and Ruahei Demant named World Rugby Players of the Year 2022". www.world.rugby. 2022-11-20. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
- ^ "Ardie Savea named World Rugby Men's Player of the Year 2023". www.world.rugby. 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2023-11-01.