Rugby: Woodman wins top sevens player award

NZ Women's Sevens star Portia Woodman (left) picked up the Women's Seven's Player of the Year accolade at the World Rugby Awards. Photo: Getty

Northland's Portia Woodman has shown she can mix it with the big boys.

Following the blazing trail of success set by her All Blacks counterparts at the 2015 World Rugby Awards in London, Woodman has been named Women's Sevens Player of the Year after another sterling year with the three-time Women's Sevens Series winning, and Rio Olympic-bound, New Zealand Sevens Women's team.

Black Ferns halfback Kendra Cocksedge also swept up an award, earning herself the Women's Player of the Year award.

"The awards for Kendra and Portia underline the great depth we enjoy across the game," New Zealand Rugby chairman Brent Impey said.

"We congratulate them both for the part they have played in strengthening women's rugby in this country."

Following their historic back-to-back and third Rugby World Cup victory, the All Blacks dominated the World Rugby Awards.

The All Blacks won Team of the Year for the sixth straight year, 112-test cap first-five-eighth Dan Carter bows out as Player of the Year for the third time, this year's most prolific tournament try scorer, Julian Savea, won International Rugby Player's Try of the Year award for his bustling five-pointer against France in the RWC 2015 quarterfinal, and new wing sensation Nehe Milner-Skudder earned the Breakthrough Player of the Year Award after a stunning debut year in the black jersey.

"Everyone has made incredible sacrifices to help the All Blacks to be in this position today as back-to-back world champions. They richly deserve to be named Team of the Year," Impey said.

"Behind them, Steve Hansen and the rest of the management team ensured they were in the best possible position to win the World Cup away from home for the first time and be successive champions.

"I want to make special mention of Richie McCaw who has led so well from the front for so long in one of rugby's most demanding positions. His contribution to this success is enormous. An extraordinary athlete, and an incredible leader who enshrines the values we hold dear of humility, professionalism, integrity. All of rugby is richer for the example he has shown."