THE EXCELLENT PERFORMANCES of the provinces throughout the pool stages of the Heineken Champions Cup is reflected in the fact eight Irish players have been nominated for the 2019 EPCR Player of the Year award.
Defending champions Leinster and Munster are represented strongly with three nominations each, while Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale is in the running for his try-scoring exploits.
Simon Zebo is one of three Racing 92 players included on the 15-man longlist for the prestigious accolade, alongside last year’s winner Leone Nakarawa and Finn Russell.
Sean Cronin, who scored six tries as Leinster advanced through to the quarter-finals as Pool 1 winners, Garry Ringrose and Tadhg Furlong are nominated after excellent performances for Leo Cullen’s side.
After finishing the pool stages as top points scorer [68] in the competition, Joey Carbery receives a well-deserved nomination alongside Munster and Ireland team-mates Peter O’Mahony and Tadhg Beirne, who made the most turnovers with 13.
Stockdale, meanwhile, helped Ulster to a first quarter-final in five years as he crossed six times during their Pool 4 campaign, narrowly missing out on becoming just the third player [behind Felipe Contepomi and Tommy Bowe] to score a try in all six pool games.
Racing winger Zebo completes the Irish representation after his brace of tries in the round six win over Scarlets not only helped the French club to advance as second seeds, but brought his European tally to 28 and moved the Cork native up to sixth on the all-time try-scoring list.
The list of nominees will be whittled down to five in April following the Champions Cup quarter and semi-finals by a combination of public vote and the verdict of judges, including Brian O’Driscoll, Bryan Habana and Dimitri Yachvili.
Players who have not been included on the initial list of nominations, but who make a significant impact for their side in the knockout stages, may be considered for the shortlist.
The 2019 winner will be announced following the Champions Cup final at St James’ Park in Newcastle on 11 May, and voting is now open here.
Previous Irish winners of the award include Rob Kearney [2012], Sean O’Brien [2011] and Ronan O’Gara [2010].
EPCR Player of the Year 2019 nominees:
- Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby)
- Joey Carbery (Munster Rugby)
- Sean Cronin (Leinster Rugby)
- Antoine Dupont (Toulouse)
- Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby)
- Alex Goode (Saracens)
- Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse)
- Viliame Mata (Edinburgh Rugby)
- Leone Nakarawa (Racing 92)
- Peter O’Mahony (Munster Rugby)
- Garry Ringrose (Leinster Rugby)
- Finn Russell (Racing 92)
- Jacob Stockdale (Ulster Rugby)
- Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
- Simon Zebo (Racing 92).
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He must really not like his brother.
Think it’s just good retirement planning by the parents. He signs his brother to take over the carers role.
A head scratcher if ever there was one.
Hate to slate a loyal servant but, it makes sense he allowed John afoa to go to Gloucester then.
Does make you wonder!
Not at all, that was a done deal long ago and Gloucester on sacked their present director last week.
NO ONE saw this coming, a real shocker!
Wow, I did not see that one coming! He was Mr Ulster, and I wouldn’t imagine he was anywhere near completing his objectives he had outlined with Ulster. Still, we should be able to attract a top class director. Conor O’Shea?
Big of a shock especially after the transformation that has happened up in Ulster the last few years…maybe he felt he couldn’t take them on any further?
Head coach
Mark Mc Call?
Not so strange. Frustration at the lack of success. By moving to Gloucester is he saying this is as far as I can take Ulster at this time? Is he saying that the powers that be do not share his ambition? What does Gloucester offer that he cannot achieve with Ulster? Shane Logan’s comments are curious, particularly regarding development as Ulster has a single representative in U20 in the junior world cup and a senior squad that can beat the best in Europe but has no trophies. Has the wrong man left Ulster?
That’s a strange one didn’t see that coming,are you any relation to charlize theron?
Hope it’s not a sign of things to come with the new financial clout of the premiership & top14 deals. I had worried about losing players but managers & directors are just as important.
Is it because there are simply too many too comfortable in their roles at Ulster paying lip service to sharing the vision or is it because he has read which way the financial wind is blowing?
Sad day for Ulster Rugby. Brilliant player, captain and leader. He spotted and attracted the best players and brought them to Belfast.
After 91 years you just can’t write off Ravenhill and its rugby history despite new stadium name. More to this story.
But can they afford to let ambition walk out the door?
If David was the director of rugby what was the title for Mark Anscombe ?
Coach
It was probably in the works for a while, but just officially announced today, in case it was a distraction during the tail end of the season. Real surprise though