ABs, Crusaders miss out

THE ALL Blacks and Crusaders have missed out on prizes at the prestigious Laureus Sports Awards.

The Rugby World Cup-winning All Blacks were nominated for team of the year and Crusaders for the comeback of the year.

Another Super Rugby franchise, the Queensland Reds, was also up for the latter award.

Champions League winners Barcelona took out the team of the year gong, emerging from a field that included NBA champions the Dallas Mavericks, Women's FIFA World Cup winners Japan, F1 champions Red Bull and the England cricket team.

The Crusaders – who were forced to play all their Super Rugby games on the road last year after the Christchurch earthquake damaged their AMI Stadium home base – lost out in their category to golfer Darren Clarke.

Clarke won his first major in more than 20 years of playing professionally when claimed the British Open title.

World number one tennis player Novak Djokovic won the sportsman of the year award and Kenyan long distance runner Vivian Cheruiyot was named sportswoman of the year.

Golfer Rory McIlroy won breakthrough of the year, Oscar Pistorius won sportsperson of the year with a disability and surfer Kelly Slater won action sportsperson of the year.