The 29-year-old centre or wing came in the top six of three statistical lists in the pool stages of European rugby’s biggest club competition as Clermont headed Pool 3.

The Aucklander, who won four caps for the All Blacks, scored five tries in five games to lie joint fourth in the try-scorers, is second in defenders beaten with 27 and joint sixth in the breaks chart with 11.

One of those tries came in the 34-17 win at Bath Rugby in Round 3, when Moala was also named Heineken Man of the Match.

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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.

ASM Clermont Auvergne back George Moala has been nominated for the 2020 EPCR European Player of the Year award after playing a big part in the French club qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup for the third time in three attempts.