RUCK's Rugby Personality of the Year: Contenders for 2015 award - Ruck

RUCK’s Rugby Personality of the Year: Contenders for 2015 award


Who would you vote for to be RUCK’s Rugby Personality of the Year for 2015?

Here’s a look at the rugby stars we think have been at their best and have starred during 2015.


Dan Carter (New Zealand/Crusaders)

Age: 33 
Achievements: Rugby World Cup 2015 winner, Rugby World Player of the Year 2015

A dream was realised when Dan Carter starred for New Zealand as they won the Rugby World Cup 2015, scoring four penalties, converted two tries and kicked a drop goal that gave the All Blacks the winning moment. Due to the performance, he was named the Man of the Match and following the All Blacks’ victory, he received the IRB Player of the Year award for the third time.


Richie McCaw (New Zealand/Crusaders)

Age: 34
Achievements: Rugby World Cup 2015 Winner

McCaw began the year by surpassing Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll world record, as the most capped rugby player when he won his 142 caps against Australia in the Bledisloe Cup. The 34-year-old captained New Zealand to retain the Rugby World Cup after a 34-17 win against Australia in the final at Twickenham. The back-row then announced his retirement from rugby in November.


Owen Farrell (England/Saracens)

Age: 24
Achievements: Aviva Premiership 2015 winner

Farrell won the Man-of-the-match award in the Premiership Final, scoring a try and kicking a further 10 points. Saracens went on to win the final 28-16.


DTH van der Merwe (Canada/Glasgow Warriors)

Age: 29
Achievements: Guinness Pro12 Winner

The wing-wizard played a crucial role in Glasgow Warriors Guinness Pro12 triumph before becoming the first player from a Tier 2 country to score all four Pool matches during the Rugby World Cup 2015 for Canada.


Waisake Naholo (New Zealand/Highlanders)

Age: 24
Achievements: Rugby World Cup 2015 winner, Super Rugby winner

He then made his All Black debut on the right wing in the 2015 Rugby Championship against Argentina but was subbed off in the 51st minute with a cracked bone that would rule him out for three months thus ruling him out of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. However, in a shock move that defied the odds, Naholo was named in the 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup 2015 and then went on to play a part as New Zealand hoisted the Webb Ellis Cup for a second consecutive time.


David Pocock (Australia/Brumbies)

Age: 27
Achievements: Rugby World Cup 2015 runners up 

Pocock scored two tries in Australia’s opening game of the 2015 Rugby World Cup in a 28-13 win against Fiji at the Millennium Stadium. He also scored a try in the Final defeat to the New Zealand All Blacks.


Leigh Halfpenny (Wales/Toulon)

Age: 26
Achievements: European Champions Cup winners 2015

Halfpenny scored 14 points in the 2015 European Rugby Champions Cup Final as Toulon beat Clermont to claim record third successive European title. However, he was ruled out of the Rugby World Cup after rupturing an anterior cruciate knee ligament during Wales’ 23-19 warm-up win over Italy at the Millennium Stadium