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Ireland flanker Josh van der Flier was named men’s Player of the Year at the World Rugby Awards on Sunday.<\/span><\/p>\n Van der Flier played an influential role as Ireland won an away series in New Zealand for the first time and moved to the top of the world rankings.<\/span><\/p>\n He also scored five tries in 11 Tests.<\/span><\/p>\n The Irish forward, who has Dutch grandparents, beat team-mate Jonny Sexton, as well as South Africa’s Lukhanyo Am and Antoine Dupont of France for the award.<\/span><\/p>\n “I have been incredibly fortunate to have great team-mates and coaches that have really pushed me on, as well as my wife and my family supporting me a huge amount,” said the 29-year-old.<\/span><\/p>\n “I have always felt I needed to be playing at my best the whole time or I wouldn’t be playing.”<\/span><\/p>\n Asked about his highlight of the year, Van der Flier said: “The win over in NZ was right up there, in terms of rugby, but my wife is sitting there staring at me and I got married in August so that probably has to be at the top.”<\/span><\/p>\n Black Ferns co-captain Demant produced a player-of-the-match performance in the 34-31 win over pre-tournament favourites England at Eden Park.<\/span><\/p>\n She beat England’s Alex Matthews, Canada’s Sophie de Goede, France’s Laure Sansus and fellow Black Fern Portia Woodman to the prize.<\/span><\/p>\n “I come from a very small place in New Zealand and to be able to put on the black jersey is a dream,” said Demant. <\/span><\/p>\n “I didn’t know much about the Black Ferns when I was a kid. Women’s rugby was never accessible or something you aspired to follow because you never had role models to look up to.”<\/span><\/p>\n Demant’s team-mate Ruby Tui won the award for <\/span>women’s Breakthrough Player of the Year <\/strong>following her switch from sevens, while Italy’s versatile back Ange Capuozzo won the same accolade for the men.<\/span><\/p>\n After winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics with the sevens squad, she switched to 15s and was part of New Zealand’s World Cup-winning side.<\/span><\/p>\n “It’s such an honour to win this award and, 27-and-a-half years old, I think I’ve set the record for oldest rookie in 15s, but hey I’ll take it,” she said.<\/span><\/p>\n Tui was also presented with another World Cup winners medal after giving her original medal away to a young fan who had recovered from leukaemia, after the final.<\/span><\/p>\n England’s Maud Muir was among the other nominees.<\/span><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Capuozzo came out on top in a category that included England’s Henry Arundell and Irish pair Mack Hansen and Dan Sheehan.<\/span><\/p>\n