BREAKING: England star shortlisted for World Player of the Year

Voting is now open. Select from the nominees shortlisted in each category by the World Rugby Awards panel members.

Australia's player of the year, the third time he's won the award, joining Israel Folau as the only man to achieve such a feat. A devastating breakdown operator, he also reached the landmark of 100 Tests.

The French scrum-half is just sheer quality, perhaps the finest proponent of a pre-emptive supporting line in Test rugby at the moment. If you switch off in defence for even a second, you can expect to see Dupont running off a shoulder to score.

The brain and brawn inside England’s pack, Maro Itoje has developed into arguably the best lock in world rugby. He is almost impossible to wriggle out of during a maul and can turn over balls in a flash. Still aged just 26, Itoje has plenty of international and domestic rugby ahead of him.

If Kerevi collided with a tank, the tank would need the post-incident attention. The Australia centre is a hugely powerful runner who always bosses the gain-line.