Impressive stats see Jasper Wiese bag English players’ union award

Leicester number eight Jasper Wiese has been named players’ player of the year in England after producing another season notable for his prolific carrying. Wiese was recognised at the Rugby Players’ Association dinner in central London on Wednesday night after coming out on top of a vote by his fellow professionals.

The South African built on last season’s rampaging form to help champions Leicester reach the Gallagher Premiership semi-finals where they lost to Sale.

Fourteen league outings were decorated by six tries with his stats for the campaign reading an impressive 130 tackles, 11 offloads and 218 carries.

The 27-year-old beat rivals Mateo Carreras, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell and Tom Pearson for the award that was won last year by his Springboks teammate Andre Esterhuizen, the Harlequins midfielder.

“It’s very humbling to be named the winner of such a prestigious and special award,” Wiese said. “I’d like to thank the players from around the competition for voting for me and I just want to thank my Leicester teammates for their support too.”

Pearson, the London Irish back row pushing hard for England honours, was named young player of the year as the Exiles finished a creditable fifth in the Premiership. Leicester full-back Freddie Steward won the England men’s player of the year award with Sadia Kabeya taking the women’s equivalent.

Gloucester scrum-half Natasha Hunt was crowned the Premier 15s player of the year.