D'Arcy, Heaslip in running for world rugby awards

Gordon D'Arcy and Jamie Heaslip have both been short-listed for the IRB World Players of the Year awards at London's Royal Lancaster Hotel on November 28.

D'Arcy has been nominated alongside France's Serge Betsen, South Africa's Schalk Burger and Marius Joubert and Wallaby Matt Giteau.

Dublin University's Heaslip has been selected due to his outstanding contribution to Ireland's passage to the U21 World Cup final in Scotland.

It will come as no surprise that he is listed beside two New Zealanders in Luke McAlister and Jerome Kaino.

The shortlisted nominees have been decided by the judging panel, comprising former internationals Rob Andrew, Jonathan Davies, John Eales (chairman), Fabien Galthié, Gavin Hastings, Michael Jones, Dan Lyle, Federico Mendez, Francois Pienaar and Keith Wood.

The nominees are as follows:

IRB Player of the Year: Serge Betsen (FRA), Schalk Burger (SA), Gordon D'Arcy (IRL), Matt Giteau (AUS), Marius Joubert (SA).

IRB U21 Player of the Year: Jamie Heaslip (IRL), Jerome Kaino (NZ), Luke McAlister (NZ).

IRB Team of the Year: France, Portugal, South Africa.

IRB Coach of the Year: Bernard Laporte (FRA), Tomas Morais (POR), Gordon Tietjens (NZ Sevens), Jake White (SA).