Sexton left speechless after winning the World Rugby Player of the Year award

Sunday saw Ireland star Johnny Sexton pick up the World Rugby Player of the Year award, having led his nation to the Six Nations Grand Slam.

The 33-year-old became the second Irish player to win the award after hooker Keith Wood in 2001.

He beat All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett, South Africa scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, New Zealand try machine Rieko Ioane and Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx.

Sexton was left literally speechless having lost his voice due to laryngitis so Ireland team-mate Rory Best had to read out his acceptance speech, saying: "If a No 10 wins an award like this, it is due to the team around him and his coaches making his job easier.

"We have some of the best coaches in the world and are led superbly by Rory Best."

Full list of World Rugby Awards winners