All Black Rieko Ioane is in the running to be named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award after being nominated today.
The speedy 20-year-old winger is one of three players - alongside Argentine Emiliano Boffelli and Frenchman Damian Penaud - to be nominated for the award, which will be handed out on November 26.
Ioane has enjoyed a stunning ascent in 2017, dislodging star winger Julian Savea from the left flank and scoring eight Test tries.
He played in two British and Irish Lions Tests, scoring twice in the first Test, and has gone on to play in five of the All Blacks' six Rugby Championship games.
He also started in last week's third Bledisloe Cup Test loss to the Wallabies.
"The breakthrough player category is always interesting, because it gives us a sneak preview of what young talent is out there and who the game's future big names are likely to be," World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said.
To be eligible, players must have played less than one year of senior Test rugby. Ioane made his All Blacks debut last November.
England and Lions lock Maro Itoje won the award in 2016.