Rugby: Three Kiwis up for IRB awards

Three New Zealanders are among the first nominees for International Rugby Board awards announced today.

Wellington's Robert Fruean is up against South Africans Johan van Deventer and Gerrit van Velze for the world under-19 player of the year award.

Midfield back Fruean was a try-scoring star for the New Zealand team who blew away a powerful South African side 31-7 in the final of the world under-19 championship in Belfast in April.

Forbes and Pelenise have been nominated for the sevens player of the year award along with Samoa's Mikaele Pesamino.

Both played key roles in the New Zealand campaign to win back the world sevens series title they lost to Fiji last year.

The nominees for the spirit of rugby, development, women's personality award, team of the year and coach of the year are still to be made.

Nominations for the player of the year will be announced after the quarterfinals of World Cup beginning next month in France.

- NZPA