The All Blacks and former first-five Dan Carter have both been nominated for the Laureus World Sports Awards.
Dan Carter celebrates the All Blacks World Cup win at Twickenham. Photo: Photosport
The All Blacks have been nominated for the sixth time for the Laureus World Team of the Year Award after becoming the first team to win back-to-back Rugby World Cups and the first to win the competition three times.
Led by coach Steve Hansen and captain Richie McCaw, who retired afterwards as the most capped player in Test history, they were inspired by Dan Carter, who was named Rugby Player of the Year.
Carter himself has been nominated for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award. He missed most of the 2011 Rugby World Cup and has struggled with injury problems. In the final he kicked four penalties, two conversions and a drop goal and was named Man of the Match.
Carter said: "It's a huge honour, I know a lot about Laureus and the amazing work they do and the special Awards Ceremony they have. It's nice to be recognised for the year I had in 2015, it was a very special year, not only for me but also for the All Blacks and to be a part of that was amazing."
A glittering collection of the world's great sports stars have been nominated, including three-time Laureus winner Usain Bolt, tennis No.1 Novak Djokovic, three-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton and five-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award.
US tennis legend Serena Williams is again nominated for the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award - her record tenth Nomination for a Laureus Award - while the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team and FC Barcelona are among those nominated for the Laureus World Team of the Year Award with the All Blacks.
Two sportsmen are nominated in two categories: surfer Mick Fanning (Action and Comeback) and world No.1 golfer Jordan Spieth (Sportsman and Breakthrough).
LAUREUS AWARDS FINALISTS:
Sportsman of the Year: Usain Bolt (Jamaica) athletics, Stephen Curry (USA) basketball, Novak Djokovic (Serbia) tennis, Lewis Hamilton (UK) motor racing, Lionel Messi (Argentina) football, Jordan Spieth (USA) golf
Sportswoman of the Year: Genzebe Dibaba (Ethiopia) athletics, Anna Fenninger (Austria) skiing, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica) athletics, Katie Ledecky (USA) swimming, Carli Lloyd (USA) football, Serena Williams (USA) tennis
Team of the Year: All Blacks (New Zealand) rugby, FC Barcelona (Spain) football, Golden State Warriors (USA) basketball, Great Britain Davis Cup Team (tennis), Mercedes Formula One Team (Germany), USA women's football Team
Breakthrough of the Year: Chile men's football Team, Jason Day (Australia) golf, Tyson Fury (UK) boxing, Adam Peaty (UK) swimming, Jordan Spieth (USA) golf, Max Verstappen (Netherlands) motor racing
Comeback of the Year: Dan Carter (New Zealand) rugby, Jessica Ennis-Hill (UK) athletics, Mick Fanning (Australia) surfing, Michael Phelps (USA) swimming, David Rudisha (Kenya) athletics, Lindsey Vonn (USA) skiing
Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Marie Bochet (France) skiing, Liu Cuiqing (China) athletics, Daniel Dias (Brazil) swimming, Omara Durand (Cuba) athletics, Pieter Du Preez (South Africa) athletics, cycling, Leung Yuk Wing (China-Hong Kong) boccia
Action Sportsperson of the Year: Rachel Atherton (UK) mountain biking, Bob Burnquist (Brazil) skateboard, Adriano de Souza (Brazil) surfing, Mick Fanning (Australia) surfing, Jan Frodeno (Germany) ironman triathlon, Chloe Kim (USA) snowboarding
