Scarratt named World Rugby player of the year
Red Roses centre Emily Scarratt has been named World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year 2019.
The 29-year-old Loughborough Lightning back beat fellow England players Sarah Bern and Katy Daley-Mclean to the award, as well as France scrum half Pauline Bourdon and New Zealand scrum half Kendra Cocksedge.
Scarratt returned to XVs rugby at the start of the year from the sevens programme and helped the Red Roses win the 2019 Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam and is the first England player to win the award since captain Sarah Hunter in 2016.
“We don't chase after individual accolades and achievements in a team sport and I have been unbelievably lucky to play with and against some fantastic players over the years and it is pretty cool for sure,” she said.
“The quality of rugby in England and around the world is going through the roof. It is really exciting, I think the women’s game over the last few years has really pushed on and it is definitely down to us to showcase what we are about, put good quality rugby out there for people to see and hopefully New Zealand 2021 is going to be one hell of a spectacle.”
England flanker Tom Curry was nominated for the men’s award but was beaten by South Africa’s Peiter-Steph du Toit, while wing Joe Cokanasiga was nominated for the men’s breakthrough award that went to France’s Romain Ntamack.
English referee Wayne Barnes won the World Rugby referee award at the ceremony which took place in Tokyo, Japan.
Full list of winners
- World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year, in association with Mastercard – Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)
- World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year, in association with Mastercard – Emily Scarratt (England)
- World Rugby Team of the Year – South Africa
- World Rugby Coach of the Year – Rassie Erasmus (South Africa)
- World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year in association with Tudor – Romain Ntamack (France)
- World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year in association with HSBC – Jerry Tuwai (Fiji)
- World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year in association with HSBC – Ruby Tui (New Zealand)
- World Rugby Referee Award – Wayne Barnes (England)
- Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service – Bernard Lapasset (France)
- Award for Character in association with Land Rover – The city of Kamaishi
- IRP Special Merit Award – Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
- IRP Try of the Year – TJ Perenara (New Zealand, v Namibia)
