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Hours after winning plaudits for the way he handled the Rugby World Cup final, Welsh referee Nigel Owens was handed the World Rugby Referee Award.

The Welshman won the gong at the star-studded World Rugby Awards ceremony at Battersea Evolution in London on Sunday.

Owens became the seventh referee, and second Welshman, to take charge of a Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham on Saturday.

The 44-year-old is a veteran of three Rugby World Cups and 68 test matches and is the most experienced member of the current referee panel.

Jérôme Garcès, of France, and Alhambra Nievas, of Spain, were also nominated for the award but Owens was the winner.

He took to twitter yesterday to claim this tournament, which New Zealand won on Saturday, was the "best Rugby World Cup ever".

But he will be back in domestic action next week, as he takes charge of Gowerton against Cymych in the Swalec League Division One West.

Dan Carter, Michael Cheika and Sonny Bill Williams

Also at the glamorous ceremony, All Blacks superstar Carter won the big award for the first time, after emerging the hero during his team's 34-17 win on Saturday.

(Image: Getty Images)

Watch the moment Nigel Owens tells Dan Carter off at Twickenham

Wallabies coach Cheika won the coach of the year award after leading his team from a relative shambles to the final.

The other big news to emerge was Saturday's star Sonny Bill Williams being given a new World Cup winners medal after handing his to an eight-year-old who ran onto the pitch to congratulate him.

The Winners

World Rugby Player of the Year in association with MasterCard – Daniel Carter, New Zealand

World Rugby Team of the Year – New Zealand

World Rugby Coach of the Year – Michael Cheika, Australia

World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year – Kendra Cocksedge, New Zealand

World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year – Nehe Milner-Skudder, New Zealand

World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year in association with HSBC – Werner Kok, South Africa

World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year – Portia Woodman, New Zealand

World Rugby Referee Award – Nigel Owens

Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service – Nigel Starmer-Smith

Award for Character in association with Land Rover – Pakistan Rugby Union

Rugby World Cup Best Match Moment – Japan (v South Africa, RWC 2015)

IRPA Special Merit Award – Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland) and Nathan Sharpe (Australia)

IRPA Try of the Year – Julian Savea, New Zealand (v France)