Barrett and Coles join three Englishmen, Maro Itoje, Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola, along with Irishman Jamie Heaslip, in being nominated for the award. The award has been won by an All Black the past four years, with the last one not won by a Kiwi being Frenchman Thierry Dusautoir in 2011.
Meanwhile Fiao'o Fa'amausili has been nominated for world women's player of the year.
World Rugby Men's Player of the Year
Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
Dane Coles (New Zealand)
Owen Farrell (England)
Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
Maro Itoje (England)
Billy Vunipola (England)
World Rugby Women's Player of the Year:
Fiao'o Fa'amausili (New Zealand)
Sarah Hunter (England)
Gaëlle Mignot (France).
World Rugby Women's Sevens Player of the Year
Charlotte Caslick (Australia)
Emily Scarratt (England)
Portia Woodman (New Zealand)
World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year
Osea Kolinisau (Fiji)
Seabelo Senatla (South Africa)
Virimi Vakatawa (France)
World Rugby Team of the Year
England
Fiji Sevens
New Zealand
World Rugby Coach of the Year
Steve Hansen (New Zealand)
Eddie Jones (England)
Ben Ryan (Fiji Sevens)
World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year
Maro Itoje (England)
Anton Lienert-Brown (New Zealand)
Ardie Savea (New Zealand)
Try of the Year
Jamie Heaslip (Ireland, v France)
Kaito Shigeno (Japan, v Scotland)
TJ Perenara (New Zealand, v Argentina)
World Rugby Referee Award
Jérôme Garcès (France)
Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)