Rugby Heroes and Villains For The Year 2016

We look back on some of the year's rugby heroes and a few of its rugby villains.

It's been a long and sometimes strange year in rugby. 365 days ago England were crap, Premiership clubs dominated the Champions Cup, and Beauden Barrett was the substitute number 10 for the All Blacks. Now England are the (second-)best side in the world, Premiership clubs are getting hammered by Pro12 sides everywhere you look, and 'Beaudy' is the World Rugby Player of the Year.

No question, All Blacks first-five is top of the list of rugby heroes who emerged in 2016. Here is a by-no-means-comprehensive list of some of the other heroes and villains we covered this year:

Hero: Beauden Barrett

Even when he's scuttling away from your defenders and crossing your tryline with his weird distinctive running style it's hard not to love Beauden Barrett. Scotty Stevenson paid tribute to the world's best Number 10 after he was crowned World Rugby Player of the Year in November.

Villain: Jaco Peyper

Irish fans got extremely mad at the South African ref following their side's controversial loss to the All Blacks in Dublin.

Hero: Andy Goode

Andy Goode looks more like a darts player than a professional rugby player, but he came out of retirement for Newcastle and earned a nomination for Aviva Premiership Player of the Year. Phenomenal.

Villain: Chris Ashton

Chris Ashton got banned for 13 weeks for biting Alex Waller, which seems bad...

Hero: Chris Ashton

... but maybe being rugby's answer to Luis Suarez is actually good? Confusing.

Villain: Aaron Smith

Hasn't been the same since he had sex.

Hero: Marty Banks

The Highlanders utility is an inexplicably popular figure in New Zealand rugby and nobody loves him more than our own Scotty Stevenson, who penned a moving tribute.

Villain: Nick Phipps

Shoved a physio and threw a boot. People have gone to prison for less.