Check out the highs and lows of 2010 and share your thoughts on the rugby union year...
Tony Curtis looks back on the past 12 months in rugby union
New Zealand finished 2010 as rugby union's top side as they gave a massive statement of intent ahead of next year's World Cup.
It is not unusual for the All Blacks to catch the eye in the build-up to a major tournament, however the big challenge for them now is to carry that form into the coming months.
The past year has seen them dominate all before them. They ran away with the Tri-Nations title, before coming to Europe to claim the grand slam.
As a result they were crowned team of the year for the fourth time, while skipper Richie McCaw was named player of the year for a third time and Graham Henry scooped his fourth coach of the year title.
France were the pick of the bunch from the northern hemisphere after completing the Grand Slam, although England's rise (with back-to-back wins over Australia) will have given cause for optimism.
France also dominated the Heineken Cup as Biarritz and Toulouse reached the final - with the Red and Blacks once again being crowned kings of Europe.
Cardiff Blues prevented a clean sweep from across the Channel by seeing off Toulon in the Amlin Challenge Cup final - with fellow Welsh outfit the Ospreys winning the inaugural Magners League grand final.
In England, Leicester continued their dominance of the Premiership with victory over Saracens, while Northampton won the LV= Cup.
While South Africa have endured a troubled time on the international stage - finishing bottom of the Tri-Nations and losing to Scotland - their franchises were the pick of the Super 14 competition, with the Bulls seeing off the Stormers in the final.
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skysports.com's highs and lows of 2010 and share your thoughts on the rugby union year using the feedback box below...
Team of the Season - All Blacks
There are few other contenders for this award. The All Blacks won 13 out of 14 games in 2010, with their only blip coming in the last minutes of their Bledisloe Cup clash against Australia in Hong Kong.
Having brushed aside Ireland and Wales in the summer, Graham Henry's side were at their imperial best as they crushed South Africa and the Wallabies in the Tri-Nations, averaging 30 points a game.
New Zealand might have been edged out 26-24 in Hong Kong, but they bounced back in emphatic style as they completed a grand slam of the home unions.
England and Wales both had their moments, but Scotland and Ireland were ruthlessly dispatched.
With Dan Carter ensuring the scoreboard is always ticking over, Richie McCaw leading from the front and the likes of Sonny Bill Williams, Mils Muliaina, Andy Ellis and Liam Messam shining, New Zealand have a wealth of talent available.
In Europe, Toulouse deserve special mention after picking up yet another Heineken Cup title.
Player of the Year - David Pocock
For the second successive year, I am in total disagreement with the IRB decision to award Richie McCaw the player of the year award.
This is not because I have anything against the All Blacks skipper, who is undoubtedly a quality player, but he has hardly been outstanding this year.
For me, David Pocock has stood head and shoulders above the opposition this season - with the 20-year-old proving that there is life after George Smith.
His work at the breakdown is impressive, while his tackle-rate is immense. Pocock made a staggering 245 tackles, and missed just six.
While McCaw has constantly split opinion over his work at the breakdown, Pocock has become a master of quickly getting to his feet after making a tackle and stripping the ball.
Most Improved Player - Ben Youngs
Having started last season as Leicester's third-choice No.9, Youngs has enjoyed a dramatic rise to the top.
He finished 2010 as England's No.1 scrum-half and appears to have the world at his feet.
His club form at the Tigers earned him a call-up for the tour down under, with his try on his first international start against Australia a moment of pure magic from the youngster.
He once again tormented the Wallabies in the Investec Internationals, playing a key role in Chris Ashton's try, and more than held his own against New Zealand and South Africa.
Youngs has already won a host of awards and titles - and at just 21 his best is still to come.
Highlight of the Season - England 35 Australia 18
Twickenham hosted what surely had to be Martin Johnson's most convincing and, more importantly, most crucial victory as England manager.
Having battled hard against the All Blacks a week earlier, the England team proved that they were no pushover. Even though the game resulted in a defeat, there was a definite energy within the English ranks.
There were only two names on the English score sheet, Toby Flood and Chris Ashton. Flood scored a record-breaking 25 points with the boot, while Ashton twice crossed the whitewash.
The first try was a product of constant support given to the ball carrier and finished off impressively by Ashton crashing through to get the score.
The best was yet to come, though, as more than 80,000 rugby fans then witnessed a spectacular second try from Ashton. England turned the ball over on their try line and set Ashton off on a 90m charge down the pitch to put his team 20 points up.
Lowlight - Drug scandal
Just when you thought it was safe, rugby was rocked by a new drugs scandal.
This time it was two South African players who tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug, rather than the 'recreational' scandals that hit the domestic game at the start of 2009.
Chiliboy Ralepelle and Bjorn Basson tested positive for the banned substance methylhexaneamine following the 23-21 win over Ireland.
Ralepelle and Basson were both sent home early from the tour of Europe, with the SARU currently investigating as there were initial fears the positive test was caused by a nutritional supplement.
The duo, who have both protested their innocence, could be banned for up to two years - with a hearing set to be heard in the new year.
Game of the Season - Leicester v Saracens
A tough category as there were a host of contenders, but the Premiership final was my pick of the lot.
The end of season finale between Saracens and Leicester was a truly epic encounter - with the Tigers winning one of the greatest games ever seen at HQ 33-27.
Saracens looked to have wrestled the crown away from Richard Cockerill's men through Glen Jackson's fifth penalty in the dying minutes of a roller-coaster game. However from the resulting kick-off Scott Hamilton snaffled the ball and passed to Dan Hipkiss. The England centre shrugged off some weak tackling to burst through and score the winning try.
Leicester celebrated another Premiership title, while the Sarries squad were left rueing what might have been having gone toe-to-toe with their rivals.
It was harsh on Saracens, who deserved so much more. They played some stunning rugby over the second half of the season and were without the banned Brendan Venter of the final.
Year to remember - England
Now I accept that I risk the wrath of the rest of the home unions (and others around the world), but I genuinely feel the England team had a year to remember.
England has endured a torrid time of late but I feel my continued backing of Martin Johnson is starting to be vindicated.
England at last look like they are willing to play an exciting brand of rugby - and while the results might not be there just yet, there has been a marked improvement in performances.
It shows how far they have come when the autumn defeat to South Africa was seen as setback when at the start of the year few would have given us a chance in that game.
Wins over Australia, coupled with promising displays against New Zealand and France have given England fans hope heading in to World Cup year.
Johnson also has a wealth of exciting talent to pick from, with the likes of Ben Foden, Courtney Lawes, Ben Youngs and Chris Ashton all shining.
The big test now is to turn this promising form into results, starting with the RBS Six Nations early next year.
Year to forget - South Africa
It has been a tough year for the Springboks and their coach Peter de Villiers.
Having been the IRB's team of the year in 2009, South Africa have suffered a horrendous slump in form. They managed just one win in the Tri-Nations while they were toppled by Scotland in the autumn tour after disappointing performances against Wales and Ireland.
The win over England might have bought coach de Villiers some extra time in the job, but opinion is turning against the controversial character.
Despite having some quality players in the form of Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Fran Steyn, Morne Steyn and Bryan Habana, the team aren't gelling - with rumours of discontent within the squad.
In fact, Habana, 2007 IRB player of the year, has not scored a try in his last eight Tests - with his last three tries coming against Italy.
Things were compounded by news Chiliboy Ralepelle and Bjorn Basson both failed drugs tests during the tour of Europe.
Gone but not forgotten
Bill McLaren - A generation of fans will have grown up listening to the 'Voice of Rugby'.
He was a decent flanker in his day and was on the verge of international honours, only for his hopes of playing for Scotland to be dashed when he contracted tuberculosis.
With his rugby career brought to a premature end by the illness, he turned to reporting - before making his commentating debut in 1953.
He would eventually hang up his mike 49 years later, by which time he had become the first non-international to be voted into the sport's Hall of Fame.
His commentaries were legendary, with gems such as "He's like a demented ferret up a wee drainpipe", "He kicked that ball like it were three pounds o' haggis", "He's as quick as a trout up a burn", "They'll be dancing in the streets of Edinburgh tonight", and "Those props are as cunning as a bag o' weasels."
McLaren was 86 when he lost his long battle against illness in January.
Andy Ripley - One of the greatest players the England team has ever seen, Ripley was a full-hearted and colourful character.
Once described as rugby's first hippie due to his long hair and rebellious stand against the powers that be, Ripley was capped by England 24 times, although he was sadly underused and undervalued.
A strong, quick runner he began his career at Rosslyn Park but went on to play a part on the 1974 Lions tour to South Africa.
It was during this tour that Ripley's clashes with the establishment over dress codes reached legendary standing.
After failing to wear the proper attire for one function, Ripley was warned not to turn up in anything other than the tour blazer, grey trousers and tie at the next function.
Ripley did what he was told to the letter, turning up in his tour blazer, grey trousers and tie - but no shirt, socks or shoes.
Ripley sadly died in June after a five-year battle against prostate cancer.
Controversy - Brendan Venter
Love him or hate him, it has been hard to keep the Saracens director of rugby out of the headlines - and there were plenty of controversies involving him in 2011.
From his run-ins with the RFU to his clash with the Leicester fans, Venter has certain provided journalists with plenty of copy and kept the powers that be busy.
Even though his time in England is coming to an end - with Venter set to return to his native South Africa in January - he looks set to go out with a bang.
Having clashed with the ERC once over his post-match reaction, Venter delivered a comical interview after the defeat to Racing Metro.
To some Venter is the sort of person rugby could do without - a brash, football-style manager. However he is certainly a character and someone not short of opinions.
