Ireland and Leinster fly-half Jonathan Sexton has been crowned World Rugby Player of the Year at the awards ceremony in Monaco on Sunday.

Sexton saw off Beauden Barrett (New Zealand), Faf de Klerk (South Africa), Rieko Ioane (New Zealand) and Malcolm Marx (South Africa).

Sexton, in a statement read out by Ireland captain Rory Best after losing his voice, said: “Thank you to my team-mates and coaches. If a number 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.

“I’d also like to thank my wife Laura who has been with me from the start. We’ve three young kids and she does absolutely everything to allow me to concentrate on the day job. I wouldn’t have been able to have the season I’ve had without her. Thank you so much, it is an incredible honour. I look at the other nominees and I admire all of them. Any of them would have been a worthy winner.”

Joe Schmidt was named Coach of the Year after orchestrating a superb 12 months which led to Ireland also picking up the Team of the Year.

Aphiwe Dyantyi was the Breakthrough Player of the Year while Brodie Retallick won the International Rugby Players Try of the Year prize.

In the Women’s game, New Zealand’s Michaela Blyde lifted the Sevens gong while France‘s Jessy Tremouliere is the Fifteens Player of the Year.

Speaking of the Sevens game, USA speedster Perry Baker won the Men’s prize as he shone for his team on the World Rugby Sevens Series.

Other awards saw Australian match official Angus Gardner crowned Referee of the Year while Doddie Weir won the Award for Character. Stephen Moore and DJ Forbes came away with the International Rugby Player Special Merit award.

Jamie Armstrong claimed the Spirit of Rugby prize and finally the Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service winner was Yoshiro Mori.