All Blacks whitewash international rugby awards

NEW ZEALAND have swept the board in the International Rugby Players’ Association awards.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was named player of the year, while lock Jason Eaton won the newcomer section and New Zealand were predictably named team of the year.

McCaw, who finished second behind his national team-mate Dan Carter last year, proved a comfortable winner after votes were collected from the eight national players’ associations.