The news means that a Kiwi player has now won the prize for five years in a row, with Barrett following in the footsteps of World Cup winner Dan Carter who scooped the award in 2015.

It was Carter's number ten jersey that Barrett inherited after the legendary fly-half retired, and he took up the mantle perfectly with some superb displays.

The 25-year-old, who can operate at fly-half or full-back, scored seven tries in 2016 as he took his Super Rugby form with Hurricanes onto the international stage.

He helped his country regain The Rugby Championship crown and the All-Blacks did it in style, winning all six of their matches against southern hemisphere rivals Australia, South Africa and Argentina with the four-try bonus point.

This success also allowed New Zealand's men to be named as team of the year, while their manager Steve Hansen collected the coach of the year gong.

The women's player of the year prize was awarded to England's Sarah Hunter.

The fifth most-capped England women’s player of all-time, 31-year-old Hunter has been an ever-present for her country this year, scoring a try in the Six Nations opener against Scotland as her side finished second behind France.

Number eight Hunter, a Women's Rugby World Cup winner in 2014, also helped England to the runners-up berth behind Canada in the Women's Rugby Super Series in July.

Australia’s Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Caslick was named as women's sevens player of the year, with South Africa’s Seabelo Senatla, who crossed for 66 tries in the 2015-16 World Rugby Sevens Series, taking the men's prize.

England's 22-year-old lock Maro Itoje was named as breakthrough player of the year.