The 28-year-old South Africa international was Ulster’s stand-out forward as they clinched the runners-up spot in Pool 3 and a quarter-final at Toulouse in April.

He finished joint top in turnovers with seven in the six rounds and was second in carries with 96, as well as being in the top 10 for defenders beaten with his tally of 23.

In addition, Coetzee was voted Heineken Man of the Match for his performance in Ulster’s 18-13 Round 2 victory over Pool 3 winners ASM Clermont Auvergne at the Kingspan Stadium in November.

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The winner of one of the most prized individual accolades in the world game will receive a specially-struck gold medal as well as the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy.

Voting for the award is now open HERE and fans will be in the running to win two VIP tickets to the Heineken Champions Cup final in Marseille next May with one night’s accommodation courtesy of EPCR, and a signed jersey of one of the Heineken Champions Cup finalist clubs.

The list will be reduced to five players in early May following the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup semi-finals by a combination of the public vote and the verdict of the judges, and players who have not been included in the initial list of 15, but who make a significant impact in a quarter-final or semi-final match, may be considered for the shortlist.

The voting will then re-open and the winner of the 2020 award will be announced following the Heineken Champions Cup final at the Stade Vélodrome, Marseille on Saturday, 23 May.

Ulster Rugby flanker Marcell Coetzee has been nominated for the 2020 EPCR European Player of the Year award after an impressive Heineken Champions Cup campaign to date.