Ireland’s Johnny Sexton was named world player of the year on Sunday for leading his nation to the Six Nations Grand Slam.
Sexton beat All Blacks fly-half Beauden Barrett — the winner for the last two years — South Africa scrum-half Faf de Klerk, New Zealand try machine Rieko Ioane and Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx.
The 33-year-old Leinster fly-half is only the second Irish player to win the award after hooker Keith Wood in 2001.
It was an Irish triple at the ceremony in Monaco as Ireland were named team of the year and Joe Schmidt won coach of the year.
Jessy Tremouliere became the first French winner of the women’s player of the year award having helped Les Bleues win the Six Nations Grand Slam.
With Sexton at their heart, Ireland only lost once all year, to Australia in June, and bagged a memorable Grand Slam against England on St Patrick’s Day at Twickenham.
They also beat the All Blacks on Irish soil for the first time with a 16-9 win on November 17.
