Springbok captain Victor Matfield has been nominated for the 2010 IRB Player of the Year award.
Matfield is joined on the shortlist for the award by last year’s winner, All Blacks’ captain Richie McCaw, his teammate Mills Muliaina, France’s Imanol Harinordoquy and Australians David Pocock and Kurtley Beale.
The winner will be announced on December 1 when the awards for IRB Coach of the Year (Graham Henry) and Team of the Year (New Zealand) will also be made known.
Previous winners: Richie McCaw (2009), Shane Williams (2008), Bryan Habana (2007), Richie McCaw (2006), Dan Carter (2005), Schalk Burger (2004), Jonny Wilkinson (2003), Fabien Galthie (2002), Keith Wood (2001).