Wallabies captain George Gregan will next month be crowned by his peers as the finest rugby union player in the world, the Daily TelegraphSydney newspaper reported today.
Scrumhalf Gregan captained the ACT Brumbies to the Super 12 title in May this year and was a key player in Australia's Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup triumphs, and in the 2-1 series victory over the British and Irish Lions.
The 28-year-old took over as Australia's captain after World Cup-winning skipper John Eales retired.
More than 150 internationals from the eight most powerful countries have voted in a poll to find the players' player of the year, the newspaper said. Gregan is the only non-European to finish in the top five.
Lions captain Martin Johnson, Ireland's Keith Wood and Brian O'Driscoll, and Frenchman Philippe Bernat-Salles were also in the top five, the report said.
The voting players came from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and France. The newspaper said the absence of South Africa and New Zealand players such as All Black winger Jonah Lomu from the top placings could be reflected in the increased number of votes cast by European players.
The winner of the poll will be officially revealed at a dinner in London on November 6th.