The Ireland international helped Leinster to the Heineken Champions Cup final last season, scoring six tries in eight appearances.

He edged out Cell C Sharks centre Lukhanyo Am, Stade Toulousain scrum-half Antoine Dupont and Leinster teammate Johnny Sexton to win the prestigious award.

Van der Flier started all 11 of Ireland’s Tests in 2022, helping them move top of the world rankings. He is the third Irish winner of the World Rugby title, after Keith Wood in 2001 and Sexton in 2018.

Following Sunday’s ceremony in Monaco, van der Flier said: "I've been incredibly fortunate to have great teammates and coaches that have really pushed me on, as well as my wife and my family supported me a huge amount.

“I'm lucky to have some very experienced, top quality players and especially in my position both in Ireland and in Leinster, so I've always felt I've needed to be playing at my best the whole time or I wouldn't be playing, so that's certainly driven me on."

Meanwhile, Stade Toulousain’s Ange Capuozzo, another player set to feature in this season’s Heineken Champions Cup, secured the Breakthrough Player of the Year award.

Eight players at Heineken Champions Cup clubs were named in the Dream Team of the Year – van der flier joined Leinster prop Tadhg Furlong in the pack, along with Munster Rugby lock Tadhg Beirne and Stade Rochelais No.8 Grégory Alldritt, who led his side to EPCR’s top prize last season.

In the backs, Toulouse’s Dupont, the EPCR European Player of the Year in 2021, secured the scrum-half berth with Leinster’s Sexton at fly-half, Cell C Sharks’ Am at centre and Leicester Tigers’ Freddie Steward at full-back.

Prop Ellis Genge, who helped Leicester Tigers to last season’s Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals but will line up in the EPCR Challenge Cup with Bristol Bears this campaign, was also included, along with centre Damian de Allende, who left Munster in the summer.

Leinster Rugby flanker Josh van der Flier has been named World Rugby Player of the Year for 2022, adding to his EPCR European Player of the Year accolade.