The Leinster Rugby wing forward, Josh van der Flier, has rounded off an outstanding European season by being named EPCR European Player of the Year 2022.
Van der Flier becomes the third Leinster player to claim one of the most prized individual accolades in the game following in the footsteps of club legends Sean O’Brien (2011) and Rob Kearney (2012).
The 29-year-old, who impressed once again in Leinster’s losing Heineken Champions Cup final display, was presented with the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy following the final at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille.
More than 30,000 votes were registered on HeinekenChampionsCup.com, and that poll, combined with the verdict of an expert panel of judges, eventually determined the winner.
Van der Flier edged out his teammates Caelan Doris and James Lowe for the prestigious award, as well as Grégory Alldritt of Stade Rochelais, and Antoine Dupont of Stade Toulousain who were also included in the five-player shortlist.
Leinster Rugby’s Josh van der Flier with Olive Foley, and Tony and Dan Foley, at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille
Antoine Dupont has capped an outstanding season by becoming the first French player to win the prestigious EPCR European Player of the Year award.
The scrum-half had already scored four tries in this season’s Heineken Champions Cup before the final at Twickenham Stadium where he helped his club win a record fifth European title with a 22-17 victory over La Rochelle. Dupont was presented with the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy as well as a watch, courtesy of official tournament partners, TISSOT.
In excess of 30,000 votes were registered on HeinekenChampionsCup.com and this record poll, combined with the opinions of a distinguished panel of rugby experts, eventually determined the winner for 2021. Dupont edged out club colleagues Jerome Kaino and Julien Marchand for the accolade, as well as Grégory Alldritt and Will Skelton of runners-up La Rochelle.
Whilst Dupont is the first French player to be added to the Roll of Honour, he is the fifth representative of a TOP 14 club to win the award. Jonny Wilkinson (2013) and Steffon Armitage (2014) were honoured in victorious seasons for RC Toulon, whilst both Nick Abendanon (2015) and Leone Nakarawa (2018) were named Europe’s finest player after finishing as tournament runners-up with ASM Clermont Auvergne and Racing 92 respectively.
Judging Panel: Erik Bonneval (beIN SPORTS), Bryan Habana (Channel 4), Sonja McLaughlan (BBC Radio 5 Live), Alan Quinlan (Virgin Media), Dimitri Yachvili (France Télévisions)
SAM SIMMONDS has capped an extraordinary Heineken Champions Cup campaign by being named EPCR European Player of the Year.
The number eight propelled Exeter Chiefs to a maiden European title at Bristol’s Ashton Gate Stadium with victory over Racing 92 and he finished as the tournament’s leading try scorer with eight, including a valuable first half try in the final. His overall contribution earned him the plaudits of a panel of distinguished rugby experts which was combined with more than 20,000 votes from the public to determine the winner.
Simmonds emerged successful from a final selection of five players, with Racing 92’s Finn Russell also popular with the fans and Virimi Vakatawa receiving acclaim from the panel. Exeter’s Stuart Hogg and Semi Radradra, who helped Bristol Bears to glory in the European Rugby Challenge Cup on Friday night, had also been shortlisted.
Simmonds is the fourth English player in five years to receive the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy as Europe’s finest player of the season after Maro Itoje (2016), Owen Farrell (2017) and Alex Goode (2019).
Judging Panel: Erik Bonneval (beIN SPORTS), Bryan Habana (Channel 4), Emmanuel Massicard (Midi Olympique), Sonja McLaughlan (BBC Radio 5 Live), Brian O’Driscoll (BT Sport), Alan Quinlan (Virgin Media), Dimitri Yachvili (France Télévisions)
An outstanding European season for Saracens has been capped off with Alex Goode being named EPCR European Player of the Year 2019.
The full-back joined the list of three-time tournament winners as he helped his club to its third European title in four seasons with victory over Leinster Rugby in the Heineken Champions Cup final in front of a capacity crowd at Newcastle’s St James’ Park, where he was presented with the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy. It completed a perfect campaign for the Gallagher Premiership club, who recorded a clean sweep of wins from their nine matches in the tournament.
The outcome was determined by a combination of a public vote and the verdict of a panel of distinguished rugby experts. Goode saw off opposition from club colleague Mako Vunipola and he becomes the third Saracens player to win the prestigious accolade after Maro Itoje (2016) and Owen Farrell (2017). Leinster Rugby trio Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong and Garry Ringrose were the other shortlisted nominees.
Panel member Dimitri Yachvili said: “Alex Goode certainly deserves the EPCR European Player of the Year. He has played every game this season with Saracens and put in a fantastic final performance. Despite the arrival of Liam Williams, he has kept his position at full-back as well as being flexible in various positions, which is testament to the quality of the player. Goode is the true X-factor at Saracens – very comfortable technically and is truly versatile, he really can make a game-changing difference.”
*Judging Panel: Bryan Habana (Channel 4), Chris Jones (BBC Radio 5 Live), Matthieu Lartot (France Télévisions), Emmanuel Massicard (Midi Olympique), Brian O’Driscoll (BT Sport), Dimitri Yachvili (beIN Sports).
Racing 92’s Leone Nakarawa has been rewarded for an outstanding European campaign by being named EPCR European Player of the Year 2018 – presented by Turkish Airlines.
The Fijian helped Racing 92 to the Champions Cup final in which they were narrowly defeated by Leinster Rugby in front of a near-capacity crowd at Bilbao’s San Mamés Stadium.
The outcome was determined by a combination of a public vote and the verdict of a panel of renowned rugby experts. There was a new record established for fans’ engagement with over 21,000 votes registered since the initial list of nominees was named at the end of January.
Nakarawa edged out club colleague Maxime Machenaud for one of the most prized individual accolades in the world game, while Leinster’s trio of Scott Fardy, Tadhg Furlong and Johnny Sexton also made the shortlist for the award.
His success is the first for a player representing a TOP 14 club since 2015 when Nick Abendanon of ASM Clermont Auvergne won. Nakarawa collects one million air miles courtesy of official tournament partners Turkish Airlines as well as a specially-struck commemorative medal. He also becomes the second recipient of the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy.
His performances in the Champions Cup received widespread acclaim throughout the season with his try in Racing’s quarter-final win at Clermont voted as the best of the knockout rounds on ChampionsCupRugby.com.
Is this man your EPCR European Rugby Player of the Year – presented by @TurkishAirlines?
②② defenders beaten, ④ tries, ①①① carries and ②⓪ offloads so far!
Vote now: https://t.co/ts9WLgoHWx pic.twitter.com/TBoq2q56Fi
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) 2 mai 2018
Judging panel:
Stuart Barnes (Sky Sports/The Sunday Times), Chris Jones (BBC Radio 5 Live), Matthieu Lartot (France Televisions), Emmanuel Massicard (Midi Olympique), Brian O’Driscoll (BT Sport), Dimitri Yachvili (beIN SPORTS).
Owen Farrell capped off a memorable night at BT Murrayfield by being named EPCR European Player of the Year – presented by Turkish Airlines.
The Saracens fly-half scored 13 points as the holders of the European Rugby Champions Cup successfully defended their crown against ASM Clermont Auvergne in Edinburgh. As well as the prestigious accolade, the England international became the first recipient of the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy and scoops one million air miles courtesy of tournament partners, Turkish Airlines.
Farrell emerged as the winner from a shortlist of five players that also included his team-mate Maro Itoje, who won the award in 2016. ASM Clermont Auvergne’s Camille Lopez, Leinster Rugby’s Garry Ringrose and Munster Rugby’s CJ Stander were also nominated.
There was an unprecedented level of engagement during the public vote, which was combined with the views of a distinguished panel of rugby experts to produce the season’s winner.
Judging Panel: Emmanuel Massicard (Editor, Midi Olympique), Stuart Barnes (Sky Sports/The Sunday Times), Mick Cleary (Rugby Correspondent, The Daily Telegraph), Matthieu Lartot (France Televisions), Dimitri Yachvili (beIN Sports), Brian O’Driscoll (BT Sport), Andy Nicol (BBC Sport)
Saracens second row, Maro Itoje, was named as the EPCR European Player of the Year 2016 presented by Turkish Airlines following his side’s Champions Cup victory at the Grand Stade de Lyon.
Selected by a distinguished panel of rugby experts whose votes were combined with those of fans from across Europe on Facebook, the most prized individual accolade in European club rugby went to the 21-year-old who was also chosen as the Heineken Man of the Match.
Itoje was presented with his award, a specially struck gold medal, by EPCR Chairman, Simon Halliday, and Turkish Airlines Board Member, Ogun Sanlier. He also received one million air miles courtesy of Turkish Airlines.
A monumental figure in Saracens’ 21-9 triumph over Racing 92, Itoje follows in the footsteps of three England internationals who have picked up the award in recent years – Jonny Wilkinson, Steffon Armitage and Nick Abendanon.
Nominees for the EPCR EUROPEAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
Steffon Armitage (RC Toulon)
Dan Carter (Racing 92)
Jack Clifford (Harlequins)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Vereniki Goneva (Leicester Tigers)
Guilhem Guirado (RC Toulon)
Juan Imhoff (Racing 92)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Kruis (Saracens)
George North (Northampton Saints)
Charles Piutau (Wasps)
George Smith (Wasps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Thomas Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs)
JUDGING PANEL
Emmanuel Massicard (Editor, Midi Olympique), Stuart Barnes (Sky Sports/The Sunday Times), Mick Cleary (Rugby Correspondent, The Daily Telegraph), Matthieu Lartot (France Televisions), Dimitri Yachvili (beIN Sports)
Nick Abendanon made European Rugby history in 2015, when he was the first annual winner of the Player of the Year trophy to come from the European Cup runners-up.
Until then the 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 winners had played for the Cup winners, but Abendanon’s outstanding performances in a losing cause for ASM Clermont Auvergne made a compelling case for him to be handed the trophy.
The former England full-back scored four tries in the tournament, including a superb effort in the final, which RC Toulon won 24-18 at Twickenham.
After collecting a loose ball, Abendanon beat the first defender, sprinted into the Toulon 22, chipped the ball over man of the match Ali Williams, ran past him, re-gathered the ball and scored behind the posts.
EPCR EUROPEAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2015 SHORTLIST
Nick Abendanon (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Steffon Armitage (RC Toulon)
Jamie Heaslip (Leinster Rugby)
Fritz Lee (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Judging Panel: Emmanuel Massicard (Editor, Midi Olympique), Stuart Barnes (Sky Sports/The Sunday Times), Alan Quinlan (Sky Sports/The Irish Times), Mick Cleary (Rugby Correspondent, The Daily Telegraph), Dimitri Yachvili (beIN Sports)
Franck Azema presents medal to Nick Abendanon
Steffon Armitage, European Player of the Year in 2014, was a key reason RC Toulon became the first club to win the European Cup three years in a row.
The 1.75m flanker’s low centre of gravity, allied to his strength and speed, made him a menace at the breakdown, where he won numerous turnovers for the TOP14 club.
Armitage, who won five caps for England, appeared in all of Toulon’s nine games in 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15, and was in fact also shortlisted for the 2015 award.
But it was the 2014 trophy that the former London Irish regular won and in so doing became the second Englishman in succession to be given the accolade, as he followed in the footsteps of team-mate Jonny Wilkinson.
Steffon Armitage fact file
Club: RC Toulon
Position: Back row
Heineken Cup apps: 36
Amlin CC apps: 13
2013/14: P 9 Pts 0
Country: England (5 tests)
EUROPEAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2014 SHORTLIST
Steffon Armitage (RC Toulon)
Chris Ashton (Saracens)
Schalk Brits (Saracens)
Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon)
Jacques Burger (Saracens)
EUROPEAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2014 LONGLIST
Steffon Armitage (RC Toulon)
George North (Northampton Saints)
Miles Benjamin (Leicester Tigers)
Paul O’Connell (Munster Rugby)
Sean Cronin (Leinster Rugby)
Peter O’Mahony (Munster Rugby)
Jean-Marc Doussain (Toulouse)
Louis Picamoles (Toulouse)
Matt Giteau (RC Toulon)
Ruan Pienaar (Ulster Rugby)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Sitiveni Sivivatu (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Cian Healy (Leinster Rugby)
Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon)
Fritz Lee (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
JUDGING PANEL
Stuart Barnes (Sky Sports), Mick Cleary (Daily Telegraph Rugby Correspondent), Marc Duzan (Midi Olympique), Emile Ntamack (three-time Heineken Cup winner) and Gerry Thornley (Irish Times Rugby Correspondent)
Jonny Wilkinson became the first English winner of the prestigious European Player of the Year award in 2013, after masterminding RC Toulon’s maiden European Cup success.
The former England fly-half almost single-handedly steered them into the final by kicking all their points in a 21-15 home win over Leicester Tigers in the quarter-finals and in their 24-12 victory over Saracens at Twickenham in the semi-finals.
The double British Lion wasn’t quite as influential in the final, but he still contributed 11 of Toulon’s points from the boot in their nail-biting 16-15 triumph over ASM Clermont Auvergne in Dublin. That gave Wilkinson 108 points from Toulon’s nine games in the 2012/13 season.
Jonny Wilkinson fact file
Club: Toulon
Position: Out half
Country: England (91 tests)
Heineken Cup apps: 21
Amlin CC apps: 37
2012/13 P 9 Pts 108 (28P, 2DG, 9C)
EUROPEAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2013 SHORTLIST
Julien Bonnaire (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Sitiveni Sivivatu (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Wesley Fofana (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon)
Jamie Heaslip (Leinster Rugby)
EUROPEAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2013 LONGLIST
Steffon Armitage (Toulon)
Charlie Hodgson (Saracens)
Rory Best (Ulster Rugby)
James Johnston (Harlequins)
Julien Bonnaire (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Morgan Parra (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Ruan Pienar (Ulster Rugby)
Wesley Fofana (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Simon Zebo (Munster Rugby)
Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier)
JUDGING PANEL
Stuart Barnes (Sky Sports), Stephen Jones (Sunday Times), Will Greenwood (World Cup winner and two-time Challenge Cup winner), Jacques Verdier (Midi Olympique), Gerry Thornley (Irish Times).
The prestigious award crowned an outstanding season for the full-back who started every one of Leinster’s nine European games as the Irish club triumphed in the Heineken Cup for an unprecedented third time in four years. Kearney succeeds teammate, Sean O’Brien, as the winner of northern hemisphere rugby’s ultimate individual accolade.
The 26-year-old scored six tries during the campaign and pushed himself into contention for the honour with a series of high-quality displays in the tournament’s pool and knockout stages.
Kearney scored two tries in the quarter-final victory over the Cardiff Blues, then followed that up by creating a try for Cian Healy and landing a superb drop goal in the thrilling semi-final success against ASM Clermont Auvergne, before playing a key role in Leinster’s record-breaking 42-14 final win over Ulster Rugby at Twickenham Stadium.
“It really is an honour to have won this award,” said Kearney when presented with his medal. “While I am delighted with the recognition, an individual player is powerless without the support of his teammates. So I owe this to the Leinster squad, to the management and to all the backroom staff at the club.”
ROB KEARNEY FACTFILE
Born: 26 March 1986, Dundalk, County Louth
Height: 1.85m / 6’1″
Weight: 95kg / 14st 13lbs
Province: Leinster Rugby
Heineken Cup appearances: 43
Ireland caps: 38
EUROPEAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2012 SHORTLIST
Stephen Ferris (Ulster Rugby)
Jonny Sexton (Leinster Rugby)
Rob Kearney (Leinster Rugby)
Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon)
Ruan Pienaar (Ulster Rugby)
EUROPEAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2012 LONGLIST
Mouritz Botha (Saracens)
Jonny Sexton (Leinster Rugby)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby)
Antoine Claassen (Brive)
Timoci Matanavou (Toulouse)
Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse)
Ignacio Mieres (Exeter Chiefs)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Ben Morgan (Scarlets)
Stephen Ferris (Ulster Rugby)
Ronan O’Gara (Munster Rugby)
Wesley Fofana (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Netani Talei (Edinburgh Rugby)
Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues)
JUDGING PANEL
Stuart Barnes (Sky Sports), Stephen Jones (Sunday Times), Raphael Ibanez (Heineken Cup winner), Emmanuel Massicard (Midi Olympique), Gerry Thornley (Irish Times).
Ireland and British & Irish Lions ace Sean O’Brien capped a golden year for Leinster in 2011. He won the players’ accolade after starting in every one of Leinster’s nine games as they won the European Cup.
EUROPEAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2012 SHORTLIST
Jamie Heaslip (Leinster Rugby)
Sergio Parisse (Stade Français Paris)
Isa Nacewa (Leinster Rugby)
Soane Tonga’uiha (Northampton Saints)
Sean O’Brien (Leinster Rugby)
The European Player of the Year longlist was introduced in the 2011/12 season
JUDGING PANEL
Stuart Barnes (Sky Sports), Stephen Jones (Sunday Times), Raphael Ibanez (Heineken Cup winner), Emmanuel Massicard (Midi Olympique), Gerry Thornley (Irish Times).
The inaugural recipient of the European Player Award, as the player who had made the greatest contribution to European club rugby during the first 15 years of the European club rugby tournaments, was Munster Rugby’s Ronan O’Gara.
The fly-half won the European Cup twice with Munster in 2006 and 2008. He remains the all-time top points scorer in the competition with 1,365, having become the first player to top 1,000 points when he scored a last-minute conversion against Clermont on 13 December 2008.
