By Mitch Phillips
LONDON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Dan Carter completed a memorable
weekend when, a day after being named man of the match in New
Zealand's World Cup final victory over Australia, he was voted
the sport's player of the year for a third time.
The All Blacks, the first team to win the tournament three
times, were also named team of the year -- for the sixth time in
a row -- at the ceremony in London on Sunday night.
Despite overseeing that back-to-back triumph, Steve Hansen
missed out on a fourth successive coach of the year award as
that went to Michael Cheika after his impressive turnaround of
the Wallabies over the last 12 months as he led them to the
Rugby Championship title and runners-up spot in the World Cup.
Carter, who also won in 2005 and 2012, joins team mate and
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw as the only triple winners of
the award, which was first given in 2001.
He received the award ahead of five other nominees -- All
Blacks team mate Julian Savea, Australia flanker Michael Hooper
and number eight David Pocock, Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones and
Scotland scrum half Greig Laidlaw.
Carter, 33, will now walk away from the international game
after scoring a record 1,598 points from his 112 appearances -
including 19 in the Twickenham final.
He is to join French club Racing Metro where is reported to
become the sport's highest-paid player.
It was first time in four years that New Zealand had not
taken the three main awards but they did get more on Sunday when
Nehe Milner-Skudder, who scored the opening try of Saturday's
final, was named Breakthrough Player of the Year and Kendra
Cocksedge was give the Women's Player of the Year award.
Werner Kok of South Africa was voted Sevens Player of the
Year while Nigel Owens, who took charge of the World Cup final,
given World Rugby's referee award.
The winners were selected by the Awards' independent panel
of judges, chaired by 1999 World Cup-winning captain John Eales
and made up of former internationals, media and the RWC 2015
participating teams.
"The World Rugby Awards are a fitting finale to an
exceptional year for rugby on and off the field," said World
Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset.
"On the back of the best-ever Rugby World Cup, we saw
deserved accolades to those who starred in full and vibrant
stadia over the past six weeks, while celebrating those who
tireless and selfless efforts ensure that our sport enjoys the
global success it does from the playground to the podium."
(Editing by Martyn herman)