The shortlist of five players has been named for the 2015 European Player of the year award. Three of those shortlisted come from finalists Clermont Auvergne and Toulon, while the other two are from beaten semi-finalists Saracens and Leinster. Here’s the list in full:
Nick Abendanon (full back, Clermont Auvergne)
– Abendanon tops the stats in pretty much every attacking category: metres made, defenders beaten, carries, clean breaks.
Steffon Armitage (back-row, Toulon)
– Armitage is bidding to become European Player of the Year for the second year running, and tops the stats for turnovers with 19.
Jamie Heaslip (number eight, Leinster)
– Heaslip has twice appeared on the five man shortlist (in 2011 and 2013), but never won the award.
Fritz Lee (number eight, Clermont Auvergne)
– Lee has saved his biggest performances for Clermont’s biggest games this campaign, most notable the win away at Munster and over Northampton in the quarter final.
Billy Vunipola (number eight, Saracens)
– Vunipola has enjoyed one of his best seasons to date in a Saracens shirt, and was titanic in a losing cause in the semi-final.
The judging panel for the award is made up of journalists, pundits and commentators from across Europe, but who do you think should win the award? Vote in our poll below:
Loading ...Previous winners of the award are: Ronan O’Gara (Munster Rugby – best player of first 15 years of European club rugby tournaments); Sean O’Brien (Leinster Rugby) 2011; Rob Kearney (Leinster Rugby) 2012; Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon) 2013; Steffon Armitage (RC Toulon) 2014
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
8 replies on “Poll: Who is your 2015 European Player of the Year?”
Three England players and only one in the squad, say no more.
That’s because the other two play in France!!
It’s because Lancaster lacks vision. Could take a leaf out of the Ozzie book.
If it ‘ruins’ English rugby by picking the 2 in Fr, chuck ’em out after the WC.
Has to be Heaslip. None of the others played with a broken back FFS! The others are a bunch of bruise easies.
DDD
PS – Pew Pew – shots fired!
DDD
How about Fritz Lee? On the basis that if he’d stayed @ home like a good boy he’d have made the ABs?
Also Heaslip & Armitage have won it before, Bendo can blot his copy by running across field & Billy’s as subtle as a snow plough.
Is billy supposed to be subtle??
Well he could try offloading in/just before the tackle or passing occasionally. Be less predictable, have a bit of variety. With a WC looming being predictable might not be the best option.