Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Bristol favourite Radradra heads 5-strong European player of the year award shortlist

(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Fijian favourite Semi Radradra is going head to head with Scottish duo Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg, England’s Sam Simmonds and Virimi Vakatawa of France after Bristol Bears, Racing 92 and Exeter were all represented on the shortlist for the 2020 EPCR European player of the year award.

ADVERTISEMENT

Fifteen initial nominees were trimmed to five based on the combined verdict of a panel of rugby experts and a public vote, and the final five includes four players whose performances were vital in taking their clubs through to the Heineken Champions Cup final at Ashton Gate next month. 

Exeter are represented by Simmonds, the leading try scorer in this season’s tournament, as well as Hogg, whose Scotland colleague Russell makes it onto the list for Racing alongside his clubmate Vakatawa. The Top 14 club are looking for a second accolade in three years as Leone Nakarawa, their former second row, won in 2018.

Video Spacer

Former All Blacks back row Jerome Kaino talks about Cheslin Kolbe, his Toulouse teammate

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 24:15
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 24:15
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
    • en (Main), selected
    Video Spacer

    Former All Blacks back row Jerome Kaino talks about Cheslin Kolbe, his Toulouse teammate

    The selection of Radradra, meanwhile, comes on the back of a stellar series of performances in the European Challenge Cup, initially for Bordeaux during the pool stage and more recently for finalists Bristol. His presence on the shortlist is unusual in the sense that players in the Challenge Cup don’t often get this type of recognition.

    Voting has now reopened on epcrugby.com/epoty and the winner and recipient of the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy will be announced following the Heineken Champions Cup final in Bristol on October 17.

    EPCR European Player of the Year shortlist

    STUART HOGG (Exeter Chiefs)
    SEMI RADRADRA (Bristol Bears/Bordeaux)
    FINN RUSSELL (Racing 92)
    SAM SIMMONDS (Exeter Chiefs)
    VIRIMI VAKATAWA (Racing 92)

    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)

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Roll of Honour

    2019: Alex Goode (Saracens)
    2018: Leone Nakarawa (Racing)
    2017: Owen Farrell (Saracens)
    2016: Maro Itoje (Saracens)
    2015: Nick Abendanon (Clermont)
    2014: Steffon Armitage (Toulon)
    2013: Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon)
    2012: Rob Kearney (Leinster)
    2011: Sean O’Brien (Leinster)
    2010: Ronan O’Gara (Munster – best player of first 15 years of European club rugby)

    ADVERTISEMENT

    HSBC SVNS Singapore 2025 | Day Two Men's Highlights

    HSBC SVNS Singapore 2025 | Day Two Women's Highlights

    Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

    Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

    Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry? | New Zealand & Australia | Sevens Wonders | Episode 5

    Kobelco Kobe Steelers vs Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

    The Rise of Kenya | The Report

    The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

    Trending on RugbyPass

    Comments

    0 Comments
    Be the first to comment...

    Join free and tell us what you really think!

    Sign up for free
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Latest Features

    Comments on RugbyPass

    TRENDING
    TRENDING Ex-All Blacks left confused after bizarre game strategy Ex-All Blacks left confused after bizarre game strategy
    Search