Rugby players have been controversially snubbed on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist for the second successive year, despite a stellar 2017 for the likes of Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje and the England Women team.

The 12-strong list from which the public will select a winner was revealed to be: Elise Christie, Sir Mo Farah, Chris Froome, Lewis Hamilton, Anthony Joshua, Harry Kane, Johanna Konta, Jonnie Peacock, Adam Peaty, Jonathan Rea, Anya Shrubsole and Bianca Walkden.

Farrell and Itoje failed to earn recognition for helping England secure back-to-back Six Nations triumphs for the first time since 2001, Saracens become only the third club to win successive European Cups and the British & Irish Lions secure an historic drawn Test series in New Zealand.

England Women players, meanwhile, were ignored despite winning the Grand Slam and reaching the World Cup final.

The snub also came barely 24 hours after the World Rugby Awards, at which Farrell and Itoje were nominated for the Player of the Year prize and Lydia Thompson was shortlisted for the women’s equivalent.