All Blacks & Ian Foster up for top World Rugby awards

All Black number eight Ardie Savea and coach Ian Foster have been nominated for awards at the World Rugby Awards.

The awards take place the night after the Rugby World Cup final between the All Blacks and South Africa in Paris.

Springboks lock Eben Etzebeth, France’s Antoine Dupont and Bundee Aki of Ireland are also up for the award with Savea.

In the coach category, Foster has been nominated alongside Ireland’s Andy Farrell, Jacques Nienaber of South Africa and Fiji’s Simon Raiwalui.

Winger Mark Tele’a and prop Tamaiti Williams have been nominated for men’s 15s breakthrough player of the year, up against South Africa’s Manie Libbok who was today dropped from the South African squad for the final. France’s Louis Bielle-Biarrey is the other nominee.

Black Ferns Sevens champions Michaela Blyde and Tyla Nathan-Wong have been nominated for women’s sevens player of the year while male counterparts Leroy Carter and Akuila Rokolisoa of the All Blacks Sevens players have been nominated for men’s sevens player of the year.

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission