Four Irish players named in Rugby World team of the year

Tadhg Furlong, Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton have all been included in Rugby World magazine's team of the year.

The four players were integral parts in Ireland's run to a first Grand Slam since 2009 with Furlong and Sexton also claiming PRO14 and Heineken Champions Cup honours last season. World Player of the Year Johnny Sexton has been included at fly-half with New Zealand fly-half Beauden Barrett also included at full-back. The All Blacks have five players included with Barrett joined in the side by Ben Smith, Rieko Ioane, Brodie Retallick and New Zealand captain Kieran Read. Elsewhere England have two selections with Mako Vunipola and Owen Farrell also making the side while Wales, Australia, South Africa and Fiji all have one representative each. The side was picked from a panel of experts from 12 different countries. Rugby World's 2018 team of the year: Beauden Barrett (All Blacks), Ben Smith (All Blacks), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Owen Farrell (England), Rieko Ioane (All Blacks), Johnny Sexton (Ireland), Conor Murray (Ireland); Kieran Read (All Blacks), David Pocock (Australia), Peter O'Mahony (Ireland), Leone Nakarawa (Fiji), Brodie Retallick (All Blacks), Tadgh Furlong (Ireland), Malcolm Marx (South Africa), Mako Vunipola (England).