Graham Henry. Photo / Kenny Rodger
All Blacks coach Graham Henry has won a top international fair play award for his conduct after his team's shock rugby World Cup 20-18 quarter-final loss to France last year.
The International Committee for Fair Play listed Henry as one of just four trophy winners from 23 awards
made for last year. The CIFP is an international non-governmental organisation recognised by the United Nations and the International Olympic Committee.
Henry is the second New Zealander to be honoured by the CIFP by receiving the Pierre de Coubertin trophy.
Former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga received the same award in 2004 for his sportsmanship during a rugby test in Hamilton the previous year when he stopped playing to check on Welsh player Colin Charvis, who had been knocked unconscious in a tackle and was in danger of swallowing his tongue.
Henry won the award for his actions after the quarter-final when he went straight to the French dressing room to congratulate the winners.
He did not publicly criticise the performance of English referee Wayne Barnes, who missed a forward pass in the lead-up to the match-winning try, and did not penalise the French during the entire second half.
CIFP general secretary Jean Durry said Henry had behaved "with great dignity and an exemplary sense of fair play" after the narrow defeat, the RugbyHeaven website said.
"For a rugby country such as New Zealand, one can only imagine how painful this defeat must have been."
Henry said the award was a huge honour for himself and New Zealand rugby.
"It was by no means an easy thing to do after losing to France, because it killed four years of a dream. But we just had to take it on the chin and act with some dignity."
- NZPA
