Wilkinson scores again with his second player of the year honour

ENGLAND’S fly-half maestro, Jonny Wilkinson, was last night named the Investec Player of the Year at the prestigious annual International Rugby Players Association Awards dinner in Sydney.

It is the second year in succession Wilkinson has claimed the Investec IRPA Player of the Year Award having won the honour in 2002.

Wilkinson tallied 262 points to outpoint the New Zealand quartet of Carlos Spencer (117 points), Doug Howlett (89), Joe Rokocoko (45), Richie McCaw (44) and Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll (38).

Judging for all categories covers the 12-month period from October 1, 2002 until September 31 this year and does not include performances at Rugby World Cup 2003.

Voting for the award is carried out on a 3-2-1 basis by players from the national squads of France, Ireland, Wales, England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

To ensure against bias and prejudice, players must vote for players from another country.

Although ranked fourth in the Player of the Year Award, New Zealand winger Joe Rokocoko was rewarded for his exceptional year when named the Investec IRPA Newcomer Of The Year.

The try-scoring Rokocoko earned 314 points to comfortably beat team-mate Jerry Collins (75), South Africa’s Ashwin Willemse (66), New Zealand’s Keven Mealamu (63) and Australia’s Lote Tuqiri (35).

New Zealand was named the Investec IRPA Team of the Year in a tight contest with England.

The All Blacks amassed 316 points out-pointing England (295), Argentina (95), Ireland (88) and France (73).

The Investec Try of the Year, judged by former Australian scrum half, Nick Farr-Jones, was Chris Patterson’s magnificent try for Scotland against South Africa last June.