The men s national team endured a middling campaign while testing out new players, while the women are stuck in limbo with their club game suspended for most of the year and their international ambitions subject to World Rugby organising a 2021 World Cup qualifier tournament.
All the while, the sport made its contribution to the front-line cause during the pandemic.
Which brings us to our first award.
Person of the Year
Ireland prop Linda Djougang didn t get to play many matches for club, province or country this year because of the coronavirus, but when she did lace up her boots she was one of the leading players in the team.