‘Helping Hand’ named IRB Photo of the Year 2011

from IRB.com:

A picture of Brad Thorn extending a hand of consolidation to Santiago Fernández after a thrilling Rugby World Cup 2011 quarter-final between New Zealand and Argentina has won the coveted IRB/Emirates Airline Rugby Photograph of the Year 2011 competition.

The winning image, taken by Andrew Cornaga (Photosport) and entitled ‘Helping Hand’, was selected from more than 300 entries by the judges who felt that it fitted the award criteria of Rugby’s values perfectly.

“The inherent camaraderie and respect in Rugby is often highlighted but rarely does an image capture those unique qualities, particularly on the world’s greatest Rugby stage,” said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset.

“Brad Thorn’s extended hand to Santiago Fernández encapsulates the true Spirit of Rugby.”

Chaired by Paul Morgan (Editor, Rugby World), the judging panel included world-renowned photographer Dave Rogers (Getty Images), Samantha Dunn (Sponsorship Controller, Emirates Airline) and Dominic Rumbles (IRB Head of Communications). The judges selected a shortlist of six images before finally confirming Cornaga’s picture as the winner.

Winning photographer Cornaga said: “Argentina had taken New Zealand on in the forwards and scored the first try of the match. At the end, though, it was the All Blacks who finished strongly securing their semi final place. There were several frames of Brad helping Santiago up off the turf, I guess this shot of Brad’s hand being offered is the one that stood out. Thorn has always been such a gladiator and a great sportsman.”

You can view the five runners-up by clicking on the links below:

Image One – Blind Determination
By Carl Fourie (Gallo Images). Plaatjies Fundiswa of Border stretches for the line during the SARU Interprovincial Sevens women’s final between Eastern Province and Border in Cape Town.

Image Two – Rallying Cry
By James Crombie (INPHO). The King’s Hospital School’s Jonathan Molloy rallies his team before a Father Godfrey Cup first round game against the High School. The Father Godfrey Cup is a Leinster-based schools tournament in Ireland.

Image Three – It’s a Try!
By Stefan Wermuth (Reuters). Vincent Clerc celebrates scoring France’s opening try in their Rugby World Cup 2011 quarter final with England at Eden Park in Auckland.

Image Four – Against All Odds
By Anne-Laure Mousteou. The amateur photographer captured players from Matano Miners and Sumbawa Bagas as they confronted horrendous conditions in the Makassar Tournament in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Torrential rain had threatened the first ever Rugby tournament on the island but the players had insisted on playing.

Image Five – Clash of the Titans
By Colm O’Neill (O’Neillfoto). Leinster captain Leo Cullen and his Munster counterpart Paul O’Connell lead their teams out ahead of one of Rugby’s most intensely contested derby matches.

If you wish to download these images for publication, please contact Andrea Wiggins, IRB Communications Manager, via andrea.wiggins@irb.com.

All six images feature in the IRB World Rugby Yearbook 2012, which hit book shops this week and provides Rugby fans with a unique ‘access all areas’ ticket to the global Game.

The Yearbook features a full review of Rugby World Cup 2011 including an interview with World Cup winning captain, Richie McCaw, plus a look back at the 20 participating nations and their individual Rugby World Cup journeys.