Bundee Aki shortlisted for World Rugby Player of the Year with Andy Farrell up for coach award

Bundee Aki has been announced as one of the four players short-listed for World Rugby Awards Player of the Year. 

He has been included along with Antoine Dupont (France), Eben Etzebeth (South Africa) and Ardie Savea (New Zealand). 

Ireland have been nominated in a number of categories with manager Andy Farrell on a four-man shortlist for Coach of the Year.

He is nominated along with Ian Foster (New Zealand), Simon Raiwalui (Fiji), Jacques Nienaber (South Africa). 

Aki will be hoping to take over from Josh van der Flier who was the 2022 World Rugby Player of the Year. 

"Centre Bundee Aki was in inspired form at RWC 2023, scoring five tries in a tournament that saw him play his 50th test for Ireland," World Ruby said of the Connact player. 

Hugo Keenan is up for International Rugby Players Men's Try of the Year.

Keenan scored the opening try of Ireland's Six National match against France, taking an inside pass from Finlay Bealham to slice through the French defence before throwing a dummy and touching down.

He is up against Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland, v England on 4 February), Damian Penaud (France, v Ireland on 11 February), Vinaya Habosi (Fiji, v Georgia on 1 October).

| !

Congrats to Hugo Keenan, on being nominated for World Rugby's Men's Try of the Year for his Six Nations try against France. #FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/mcMFPgQmxV

— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) October 26, 2023

The nominees in various categories were revealed by World Rugby Awards 2023 on Thursday, which will be presented at the Opéra Garnier in Paris on Sunday, 29 October.

Winners in 11 categories are set to be honoured in a star-studded showcase taking place just hours after the conclusion of a record-breaking Rugby World Cup 2023 at Stade de France.

Overall, eight countries are represented among the first nominee announcements, with New Zealand leading the way with nine nominations across six categories.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: "All those nominated today deserve not only our congratulations but also our thanks for everything they have contributed, on and off the field, to inspire fans and players worldwide, driving rugby forward in 2023 in line with our sport’s values.

"The strength of rugby is its players, coaches, officials and volunteers, and these shortlists provide a vivid snapshot of a sport that is thriving globally in its 200th year. One day after we crown the Rugby World Cup 2023 champions, we look forward once again to uniting our global family and presenting a wider cast of winners with the ultimate accolades in our sport – the World Rugby Awards."