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Exciting Fijian pair recognised among Europe's best
By Online Editors
Edinburgh and Fiji Number Eight Bill Mata has been recognised as one of European rugby's best players after being nominated for the prestigious EPCR European Player of the Year award.
Mata made headlines recently for a silky offload he produced against Toulon.
Last year’s winner also hails from Fiji, Racing 92 and Fijian national team forward Leone Nakarawa. Nakarawa is up for the award again, as are his Racing 92 teammates Finn Russell and Simon Zebo.
Nakarawa's Racing are set for a massive Champions Cup quarter-finals clash against Toulouse, who have two Player of the Year nominees within their ranks in halfback Antoine Dupont and wing Cheslin Kolbe.
Irish players assume over half of the 15 available nominee slots with eight players nominated. England have just two representatives in Saracens Alex Goode and Mako Vunipola.
Current Cup holders Leinster have three nominees in the form of Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong and Garry Ringrose.
The current list of 15 will be culled to five finalists in April after the Champions Cup semi-finals. The top five will be decided by a combination of the public vote and a panel of judges.
EPCR European Player of the Year award 2019 nominees:
Tadhg BEIRNE (Munster Rugby)
Joey CARBERY (Munster Rugby)
Sean CRONIN (Leinster Rugby)
Antoine DUPONT (Toulouse)
Tadhg FURLONG (Leinster Rugby)
Alex GOODE (Saracens)
Cheslin KOLBE (Toulouse)
Viliame MATA (Edinburgh Rugby)
Leone NAKARAWA (Racing 92)
Peter O’MAHONY (Munster Rugby)
Garry RINGROSE (Leinster Rugby)
Finn RUSSELL (Racing 92)
Jacob STOCKDALE (Ulster Rugby)
Mako VUNIPOLA (Saracens)
Simon ZEBO (Racing 92)
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Latest Comments
"Survive"? "Scare?" A bit dramatic. ABs always going to win, just a matter of by how much.
The Azurri were up for it though. As expected. You can bet they were planning for this specific test for months. Let's not forget they were pipped by ENG, drew with FRA, & beat both SCO & WAL in the Six Nations in Feb/Mar this year.
A mess of a match, good win, considering.
Go to commentsAfter you. And yes, that's exactly what Penney should do. Stat!! Unfortunately he has one year left on his contract.
Penney's Super Rugby win record was a low 23% before we signed him on. At the top was Razor at 84%. And true to form, Penney took us from a 7-peat to not even making the play-offs in ONE season. No excuses. LOSER. Thank God his contract is up next year. And hopefully Rangi might wanna throw his hat in for the job.
In the meantime, hopefully we can crack the top 6 this year in spite of Penney!??!
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