World Rugby Awards to take place at the Opéra Garnier, Paris on Sunday, 29 October

World Rugby has revealed that the 23rd edition of the annual World Rugby Awards will be staged at the prestigious Opéra Garnier in Paris on Sunday, 29 October – the evening following the final of Rugby World Cup 2023 at Stade de France.

The glittering event, which brings together the leading figures of the global rugby community, will be hosted by French sports broadcaster Clémentine Sarlat, together with former England international and fellow broadcaster Ugo Monye.

The star-studded ceremony, as well as a preceding red-carpet show, will be available for free to fans around the world on RugbyPass TV, with exclusive content featuring the many special guests and international rugby greats in attendance. 

The Awards will provide a fitting conclusion to the sport’s greatest celebration, as rugby marks its 200th birthday with capacity crowds and record TV audiences at Rugby World Cup 2023. 

In addition to honouring the Rugby World Cup 2023 winners, the event will recognise the on-field achievements of the calendar year and those who have made an outstanding contribution to the sport. It will showcase award recipients in the following categories:

• World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year in partnership with Mastercard
• World Rugby Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year in partnership with Tudor
• World Rugby Referee Award
• World Rugby Coach of the Year
• World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year in partnership with HSBC
• World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year in partnership with HSBC
• International Rugby Players’ Men’s Try of the Year
• International Rugby Players Special Merit Award
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service
• World Rugby Men’s 15s Dream Team of the Year in partnership with Capgemini
• Rugby For All Award

Owing to the timing of the inaugural WXV competition, taking place from 13 October to 4 November, the winners of the following women’s categories will be revealed and celebrated separately, during the week of 30 October:

• World Rugby 15s Women’s Player of the Year in partnership with Mastercard
• International Rugby Players’ Women’s Try of the Year
• World Rugby Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year in partnership with Tudor
• World Rugby Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year in partnership with Capgemini
• All nominees will be announced on Thursday, 26 October. 

The ceremony will also see five new inductees to the World Rugby Hall of Fame, whose identities will be revealed this week.

Sir Bill Beaumont, Chairman of World Rugby, said: “In rugby’s 200th anniversary year, the World Rugby Awards 2023 will be the occasion to celebrate an extraordinary 12 months on and off the field, which have truly showcased the timeless values and unifying power of our sport.

“Our theme has been “togetherness” and this ceremony will offer another opportunity - in a breathtaking setting and at the conclusion of what has been a record-breaking Rugby World Cup - to bring the global rugby family together and celebrate those who are continuing to drive the sport forward in a new century. The Awards will be the cherry on top of our 200th birthday cake!”