All Blacks dominate World Rugby awards

The back-to-back World Champions New Zealand have dominated the World Rugby awards following their impressive performances last year.

Fly-half Beauden Barrett won the player of the year 2016 while New Zealand were named the team of the year after they claimed their second consecutive World Cup in 2015 and their head coach Steve Hansen bagged the coach of the year award.

Barett had stiff competition from England trio Owen Farrell, Billy Vunipola and Maro Itoje and Ireland's Jamie Heaslip but now becomes the fifth consecutive All Blacks player to win the award following Dan Carter (2012 and 2015), Kieran Read (2013) and Brodie Retallick (2014).

Hansen had to compete for the coach of the year award with England's Eddie Jones, who has helped his team climb to the second spot in the World Rugby Rankings during his tenure which also included Grand Slam victory for the first time in 13 years during 2016 Six Nations and their first 3-0 series whitewash against Wallabies in Australia.

However, under Hansen, New Zealand had set a new world record of winning 18 consecutive Tests which came to a halt in their previous defeat to Ireland in Chicago.

Saracens lock Maro Itoje was named the breakthrough player of the year for his standout performances in England's victories last year.

Expressing happiness for Itoje, Jones believes the 22-year-old can go on to become the best in the world.

"He's a brilliant young player and this award is a testament to his ability and now it's about how hard he works to convert that to be a truly world class player in the future. I'm sure he has that attitude to do it," Jones said.

"The staff and whole team are so pleased for him to win the award and we are really proud of him.

"No doubt he can become the best if he works hard enough. He is dedicated, he chases to be great and he chases to be world class.

"There have been a lot of England players who have risen to a height and then not continued.

"Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes were hailed as the new thing and for whatever reason they haven't achieved those heights.

"We want to make sure Maro achieves those heights consistently and I am sure he will."

Meanwhile, Itoje expressed his gratitude to the England team as well as his club team Saracens and is hoping for more to come in the coming years.

"He's a brilliant young player and this award is a testament to his ability and now it's about how hard he works to convert that to be a truly world class player in the future. I'm sure he has that attitude to do it," Jones said.

"The staff and whole team are so pleased for him to win the award and we are really proud of him.

"No doubt he can become the best if he works hard enough. He is dedicated, he chases to be great and he chases to be world class.

"There have been a lot of England players who have risen to a height and then not continued.

"Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes were hailed as the new thing and for whatever reason they haven't achieved those heights.

"We want to make sure Maro achieves those heights consistently and I am sure he will."

England captain and number eight Sarah Hunter won the Women's player of the year award.