All Blacks winger Rieko Ioane up for World Rugby breakthrough player award

All Blacks winger Rieko Ioane. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Rieko Ioane is all but certain to win this year's World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award after being nominated today.

The speedy 20-year-old is one of three players - alongside Argentine Emiliano Boffelli and Frenchman Damian Penaud - to be nominated for the gong, which will be handed out at the organisation's awards night on November 26.

Ioane has enjoyed a stunning ascent in 2017, dislodging star winger Julian Savea from the left flank and scoring eight Test tries.

He played in two British and Irish Lions Tests, scoring twice in the first Test, and has gone on to play in five of the All Blacks' six Rugby Championship games.

He also started in last week's third Bledisloe Cup Test loss.

"The breakthrough player category is always interesting, because it gives us a sneak preview of what young talent is out there and who the game's future big names are likely to be," World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said.

To be eligible, players must have played less than one year of senior Test rugby. Ioane made his All Blacks debut last November.

England and Lions lock Maro Itoje won the award in 2016.

BREAKING: Three players nominated for World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year 2017 from @unionargentina, @allblacks and @FFRugby pic.twitter.com/sALvnY2yvv

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) October 23, 2017