Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

All Blacks, Crusaders and Valerie Adams miss out on World Sports Awards

Updated at 1:32 pm on 7 February 2012

The All Blacks and Crusaders have missed out on prestigious Laureus Sports Award, with Spanish football club and Champions League winner Barcelona winning the team award.

Basketball's NBA champions the Dallas Mavericks, the women's football world cup winners Japan, Formula One champions Red Bull and the England cricket team were the other finalists.

It's the fourth time the All Blacks have been nominated for the team award, but they're yet to win.

New Zealand's world champion shot putter Valerie Adams also missed out on the world sportswoman of the year award, which went to the Kenyan distance runner Vivian Cheruiyot, who won both 5,000 and 10,000 metres gold medals at the World Champs.

The world tennis number one Novak Djokovic was named world sportsman of the year for his 2011 efforts in winnning three grand slam titles and taking over the top spot from Roger Federer.

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