IRPA Try of the Year launched
Jaque Fourie's try was the 2009 winner
Photo and Story: www.irb.com
- Fans asked to nominate their favourite try
- O’Driscoll and Ashton relive their winning moment
- Winner announced at IRB Awards in October
The International Rugby Board and the International Rugby Players’ Association (IRPA) have launched the IRPA Try of the Year 2011. A new interactive format will enable fans to nominate their favourite try as part of the selection process.
It is the first time that the prestigious award, won in 2010 by England’s Chris Ashton, has featured fan recommendations and will add extra interest to a process that saw fans vote in record numbers last year.
Tries from Rugby World Cup 2011, the Tri Nations, RBS Six Nations and other Test matches will be considered by the panel of judges comprising former international players. The winner will be announced at the IRB Awards in association with Emirates Airline, in New Zealand on October 24.
Nominations are accepted until 23:00 (NZL time) on October 23 and can be submitted via the Rugby World Cup and IRB websites, the RWC 2011 or Total Rugby Facebook pages or by emailing tryoftheyear@irb.com.
Ashton said: “It was a huge honour to have had my try voted IRPA Try of the Year last year. To have scored it at Twickenham in front of 85,000 mostly English fans was incredible and the occasion will live with me forever."
“To then have fans around the world taking the trouble to vote for it as the best try they’d seen that year was quite humbling really. When you look at the shortlist of players and tries you’re up against – like those scored by Mils Muliaina, Felipe Contepomi and Shane Williams, it’s hard to believe your name is sitting alongside them.”
VIDEO: IRPA TRY OF THE YEAR 2010
Brian O’Driscoll, a winner in 2008 with a superb score against Australia, added: “You tend to remember the scores in your career that come at pivotal times in games and I know that try brought us right back into a game that we came close to winning on Australian soil."
“It's enjoyable to look back and remember those times and especially so when it is marked by an award. I've been lucky enough to score some superb tries during my career to date and it is certainly even more satisfying when it gets recognised by the supporters through a public vote.”
VIEW O'DRISCOLL'S WINNING TRY >>