Wellington, Sept 6 NZPA - New Zealand wing Carla Hohepa has been named the International Rugby Board's women's Personality of the Year for 2010.

Hohepa was presented with the award after this morning's (NZt) women's World Cup rugby final which saw New Zealand narrowly beat England 13-10 at Twickenham Stoop in London.

Hohepa scored the only try of the final to finish the tournament as joint leading try scorer with seven.

Hohepa, 25, fought off stiff competition to take the award from England duo Maggie Alphonsi and Danielle Waterman, plus Australia's Nicole Beck.

"I can't take all the credit for it but it's an awesome honour to win this award," Hohepa said.

"The whole team performance was fantastic, everyone has put 100 percent in and it showed out there today."

Previous New Zealand winners of the award were Farah Palmer in 2005 and Monique Hirovanaa in 2002.