South African flanker Pieter-Steph Du Toit has been crowned World Rugby Player of the Year at the World Rugby awards ceremony in Toyko.
The 27-year-old Stormers back row shone for the Springboks throughout a success-laden 2019 as Rassie Erasmus' side powered to victory in both the Rugby Championship and the World Cup.
He beat out competition from fellow nominees, Cheslin Kolbe, Ardie Savea, Alun Wyn Jones, Joe Taufete'e and Tom Curry.
Du Toit becomes the third South African winner of the award after Schalk Burger in 2004 and Bryan Habana three years later.
Pieter-Steph Du Toit accepts his World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year award, in association with @Mastercard
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 3, 2019
#WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/SiW4R0qQgz
The coach of the year award went to Rassie Erasmus, who masterminded South Africa's World Cup final victory over England.
Erasmus triumphed in a category that also saw England's Eddie Jones, Wales boss Warren Gatland, Japan head coach Jamie Joseph and New Zealand's Steve Hansen nominated.
And South Africa won team of the year following their World Cup final success after previous victories in 1995 and 2007.
France's 20-year-old fly-half Romain Ntamack triumphed in the Breakthrough Player of the year category. South Africa's Herschel Jantjies and England's Joe Cokanasiga were the other nominees.
England centre Emily Scarratt was named Women's Player of the Year.
She saw off the challenge of her England colleagues Sarah Bern and Katy Daley-McLean, while France's Pauline Bourdon and New Zealand's Kendra Cocksedge were also nominated.
England's Wayne Barnes was named Referee of the Year.
While it was a grim year for Ireland - after scooping the player, coach and team of the year awards in 2018 - there was recognition for former Irish number eight Jamie Heaslip who received the International Rugby Players' Special Merit award.
