The All Black winger Rieko Ioane is a finalist in the world rugby awards having been nominated in the breakthrough player of the year category.
The other two finalists are Argentina winger Emiliano Boffelli and French centre Damian Penaud.
All Blacks winger Nehe Milner-Skudder won the award in 2015.
Rieko Ioane celebrates scoring a try against South Africa in 2017, the last time the All Blacks played in Cape Town. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Ioane made his test debut last November with a try against Italy and has gone onto make his mark in the test arena with eight tries in as many starts.
The 20-year-old scored twice in his first start against the British and Irish Lions at Eden Park and claimed another double in his first Bledisloe Cup match in August.
With pace and strength to burn, Ioane finished the Rugby Championship as joint-top try-scorer with five.
The breakthrough player of the year award is one of 12 categories of awards, including the World Rugby Men's and Women's Players of the Year, World Rugby Team of the Year, World Rugby Men's and Women's Sevens Players of the Year and Award for Character.
The winners will be announced in Monaco on Monday November 27th.
