There should be no quibbling over the winners at the third annual International Rugby Board awards after a distinguished international judging panel of former players was formed to cast an eye over candidates.
The world's best players will be vying for a host of awards including the IRB under 19 player of the year, the IRB under 21 player of the year and the international player of the year in association with Heineken.
Sporting ambassadors from all over the world will be among the 900 strong gathering on Sunday, 23 November to celebrate the best rugby performances from around the globe in the past year.
The awards ceremony, to be held at Sydney’s Wharf 8, will be covered live on Fox Sports from 20:00.
Rugbyworldcup.com profiles the former stars:
Paul Ackford (England)
Ackford made a late entry into the international arena, making his England debut at the age of 30 in 1988. He was also a member of the winning Lions team in Australia in 1989. Ackford has been the Sunday Telegraph’s rugby correspondent since 1994. He is married with two children.
Gerald Davies (Wales)
Davies played 46 times for Wales between 1966 and 1978 and also represented the Lions in South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971. At club level, he represented London Welsh from 1968 to 1974 and captained Cardiff from 1975 to 1978.
Davies is now a correspondent for the English newspaper The Times. He was awarded a CBE in this year’s New Year’s Honours list.
Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand)
Fitzpatrick is the most capped All Black and one of the most durable rugby players New Zealand or any other country has seen.
Fitzpatrick wore the All Black jersey for 11 years, playing 128 games for the national team, including 92 tests. That included an amazing run of 63 consecutive tests. He is presently the manager of the Auckland Blues Super 12 team.
Simon Poidevin (Australia)
The New South Wales flanker made his debut for Australia in 1980 and went on to gain 59 caps for his country. He was a member of the team that lost out to France in the semi-final of the World Cup in 1987, which made his final appearance – the defeat of England at Twickenham in the 1991 World Cup final – all the sweeter.
He currently works for an international equities research firm in Sydney and is also a member of the Seven Network Rugby Commentary Team.
Hugo Porta (Argentina)
A truly world class fly half with great balance, vision and kicking game to match, Porta played in 58 Tests for Argentina from 1971 to 1990. His haul of 590 points included 101 penalties and 26 drop goals, three of which he stroked over against Australia to help his side to a memorable 24-13 victory in 1979.
After serving his country for 19 years on the field of play, Porta then became Argentina's Ambassador to South Africa in 1991 before returning to his homeland as Minister of Sport.
Gareth Rees (Canada)
Rees gained 55 caps for Canada and scored 487 points overall. He holds the distinction of being the only player to have played in the first four Rugby World Cups.
Rees hails from Victoria, British Columbia on Canada's west coast but later played first class rugby in both France and Wales. He read Modern History and gained Rugby and Athletics blues at Oxford University. He then stayed in England where he played professionally for both NEC Harlequins and London Wasps.
A former schoolteacher, Gareth has worked in player management and has coached professionally. He is also a former Chief Executive Officer of Rugby Canada.
Philippe Sella (France)
Sella’s world record tally of 111 may finally be surpassed by England’s Jason Leonard if he takes the field against France in Sunday’s semi final.
During 14 years of wearing the French jersey he scored 30 tries, allying fleet of foot and vision in attack with ferocious defence. He was a central figure in France’s last-gasp Rugby World Cup semi-final victory over Australia in 1987.
When he retired from the international arena in 1995 he joined English club Saracens, whom he helped to a domestic cup trophy in 1997. That proved to be his final game before he began concentrating fully on his successful business career.
Fergus Slattery (Ireland)
Slattery gained 61 caps for Ireland and was also a member of the Lions tours to New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa in 1974. For Ireland he went on to form a formidable back row partnership with John O’Driscoll and Blackrock team mate Willie Duggan, which was rewarded in 1982 with the Five Nations Triple Crown.
David Sole (Scotland)
David's early life was dominated by a passion for rugby union and he was awarded an OBE for services to the sport in 1993. He played for Scotland 44 times, captaining them on a record 25 occasions including to a Grand Slam in 1990. He also played for the Lions against Australia in 1989.
He played for Edinburgh Academicals from 1987 to 1992 and for Bath from 1983 to 1987. He retired relatively young to pursue his business career.
Chester Williams (South Africa)
The current Springbok Sevens coach was the toast of the South African nation in 1995 when the country emerged victorious in the third Rugby World Cup.
Williams made his Test debut against Argentina in Buenos Aires in 1993 and went on to play a total of 27 Tests for his country, scoring 14 tries. His last outing in a Bok jersey was against Wales in 2000. He also represented and captained the Springboks at Sevens, playing at both the World Cup and Commonwealth Games. His ambition is to coach the Springboks.