British and Irish Lions

Carter faces stiff competition from fellow All Blacks Jerry Collins and Keven Mealamu for the player of the year award and will need to hold off the challenge of Crusaders team-mate Rico Gear and veteran hooker Anton Oliver in the Super 12 player of the year category.

Carter has had an outstanding year with stellar performances against the British & Irish Lions and on the recent Grand Slam tour of Britain and Ireland. He won the New Zealand player of the year last year.

The team of the year nominees are the All Blacks, who achieved a rare Grand Slam and also beat the touring Lions, the Black Ferns, who beat England twice, the Super 12-winning Crusaders and New Zealand Maori, who also beat the Lions, as well as Fiji.

Other awards include coach of the year - where All Blacks coach Graham Henry is up against Crusaders coach Robbie Deans, who steered his team to their fifth Super 12 title this season, and outgoing New Zealand Maori coach Matt Te Pou - Maori player of the year, referee of the year and the three divisional National Provincial Championship players of the year.

The awards ceremony is in Auckland on February 9.

Sam Warburton says he is 'absolutely delighted' after being chosen to lead The British & Irish Lions in Saturday's first Test match against the Qantas Wallabies.

British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland admits he and his assistants faced some tough selection calls when picking the side to face the Qantas Wallabies in Saturday's first Test.

Less than four kilometres away from the Suncorp Stadium, venue for the opening Test between the British & Irish Lions and Qantas Wallabies on Saturday, lies the grave of the man who took the starring role in the first international between the two teams in 1899.