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The 8 player shortlist for the 2024 Champions Cup Player of the Year
By Ian Cameron
The European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) has confirmed the shortlist for the 2024 Investec Champions Cup Player of the Year.
This year’s nominees include four Leinster players: Caelan Doris, Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, and Dan Sheehan. Northampton Saints' Courtney Lawes and Fin Smith are also on the list, along with Antoine Dupont from Stade Toulousain and Marcus Smith of Harlequins.
Leinster - who are set to face Northampton Saints at Dublin’s Croke Park in the upcoming Investec Champions Cup semi-final - has a strong representation thanks to their dominant performance this season.
They reached the semi-finals after defeating the defending champions Stade Rochelais in both the pool stage and the recent quarter-final, as well as breezing past Leicester Tigers.
The contributions of Ireland stars Doris, Gibson-Park, Lowe, and Sheehan have been crucial.
Northampton's nominees reflect their key roles in the team's first semi-final appearance since 2011. Lawes has lead the pack while England rookie Fin Smith has stepped up to the plate in terms at flyhalf.
Dupont - the 2021 Player of the Year - continues to be a standout for Stade Toulousain as they aim for a record sixth title. It comes despite his foray on the HSBC SVNS circuit with France.
Meanwhile England star Marcus Smith has been central to Harlequins' unprecedented success in Europe this season, maybe most eye-catchingly during their narrow 42-41 victory over Union Bordeaux-Begles last weekend.
The nominations were decided through a combination of public voting and expert analysis by a panel of judges. The panel includes Jim Hamilton, a two-time Investec Champions Cup winner; Francois Louw, a 2019 Rugby World Cup winner; Ugo Monye, a broadcaster and two-time EPCR Challenge Cup winner; Elma Smit, a sports presenter and producer; and Dimitri Yachvili, a commentator and EPCR Challenge Cup winner.
The public has the opportunity to influence the outcome once more by casting votes at epcrugby.com/ipoty. The winner, who will also receive the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy, will be announced after the Investec Champions Cup final scheduled at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 25.
2024 Investec Player of the Year nominees
Caelan Doris (Leinster Rugby)
Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain)
Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
James Lowe (Leinster Rugby)
Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Roll of Honour
2023: Gregory Alldritt (Stade Rochelais)
2022: Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby)
2021: Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain)
2020: Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
2019: Alex Goode (Saracens)
2018:?Leone Nakarawa (Racing 92)
2017:?Owen Farrell (Saracens)
2016:?Maro?Itoje?(Saracens)
2015:?Nick Abendanon (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
2014:?Steffon?Armitage (RC Toulon)
2013:?Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon)
2012:?Rob Kearney (Leinster Rugby)
2011:?Sean O’Brien (Leinster Rugby)
2010:?Ronan O’Gara (Munster Rugby – best player of first 15 years of European club rugby)
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Latest Comments
Larry Brown was 63 when he won the NBA, and Phil Jackson was 64.
I guess my general feeling in rugby is that most coaches seem to decline quite a bit when they hit 60, and to be coaching at the top level when you’re 65 or older is extremely rare. Maybe in american sports people have another 5 years, but that doesn’t seem like a massive difference.
Either way, I’m going to stick with my verdict that appointing Les Kiss at age 60 would be ok as a short term deal - but appointing him at 63 and expecting him to last 4 years would be foolish.
Go to commentsWe come off a loss and a big one to Moana Pasifika and 2 years in a row losing to the Drua. The motivation to reverse that is huge. This competition has been unpredictable. I believe the return of inform players like Antonio Shalfoon , Christian Lio-Willie will make a huge difference.Tom Christie, who played so well in his 2 starts and Corrie Kellow will be raring to go. We missed David Havili, the form second five and captain last week, he thankfully will be back soon. But Codie Taylor is a great choice to captain in the mean time in David’s absence.
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