ERC European Player of the Year Award

[TRF_Cymro]

FIVE SHORTLISTED FOR ERC EUROPEAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2011

Four players from the two teams that have reached the 2011 Heineken Cup final, Leinster and Northampton Saints, have been short-listed for the ERC European Player of the Year award.

And the fifth candidate for Europe’s top individual award will lead Stade Francais Paris into their Amlin Challenge Cup final against Harlequins on Friday night in Cardiff.

In 2010 ERC, the Governing Body of Europe’s two club rugby tournaments, launched the highly acclaimed ERC15 Awards, recognising the efforts of a number of outstanding contributors to the first decade and a half of European competition.

The inaugural recipient of the ERC European Player Award, as the best player over the first 15 years of these tournaments, was Munster’s Ronan O’Gara.

For the 2010/11 season ERC will present a singular award to the best player of the season from both of its tournaments - Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup, selected by a panel of five experts and ratified by the captains and coaches of the 44 clubs from the two competitions.

The Selection Panel comprised three members of last year’s ERC15 Awards committee, Stuart Barnes (Sky Sports), Jean-Roger Delsaud (Midi Olympique) and Stephen Jones (Sunday Times). They were joined by current Heineken Cup Ambassador, Raphael Ibanez, and Gerry Thornley (Irish Times).

The Selection Panel studied the performances of players from the 24 Heineken Cup and 20 Amlin Challenge Cup teams in this season's campaign and presented a five man shortlist to ERC (in alphabetical order):

• Jamie Heaslip Leinster
• Isa Nacewa Leinster
• Sean O'Brien Leinster
• Sergio Parisse Stade Francais Paris
• Soane Tonga'uiha Northampton Saints

The shortlist has been presented to the 44 clubs for their views and the Selection Panel will reconvene in Cardiff, host city for the two European finals this week, to complete the selection process and confirm the winner of the ERC European Player of the Year Award. The winner will be announced Monday, 24th May and a presentation made at his respective club.

Mark Jones
Communications Manager

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sean O'Brien will win it, but I'd say Nacewa or Tonga'uiha

Heaslip's been hit and miss, SOB has been fantastic, then gone missing, then been fantastic again, I haven't seen much of SF this season so can't comment there but Nacewa and Tonga'uiha have been consistently great

 

[lucky number 7]

Nacewa Or SOB....Parisee is consistantly nominated for awards even though he hasn't been fantastic at all.

 

[lynam1104]

SOB should get it been the best 6/7 in the tournament and well I'm bias.

 

[Teh Mite]

If it were based on public votes, anyone who doesn't play for Leinster may as well forget about it anyway.

I'd suggest it's likely to be Heaslip who icks up the gong for single handedly carrying Leinster through the 1/4 and semis.

 

[Logorrhea]

Nacewa for me, or Richie McCaw

 

[Groundhog]

surely having 3/5 of the players from one club is too much but i would agree with O'Brien getting it

 

[Papachinzo]

Anyone know when this is being announced?

 

[TRF_Cymro]

SEAN O'BRIEN VOTED ERC EUROPEAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2011

Caption: Derek mcGrath, ERC chief executive (left), presents Sean O'Brien with the ERC European Player of the Year Award (Photo attached by Inpho (Morgan Treacy) )

SEAN O’BRIEN VOTED ERC EUROPEAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2011

Sean O’Brien has been named as the ERC European Player of the Year for 2011.

The award crowns a magnificent season for the Leinster back row player, who started every one of the Irish province’s nine games as they carried off the Heineken Cup for the second time in three years.

This weekend O’Brien, who also played throughout Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations campaign this year, and his Leinster team mates will be hoping to double up by becoming only the fourth club to win a domestic league and European Cup double when they meet Munster in the Magners League Grand Final at Thomond Park.

O’Brien was presented with his award, a specially struck gold medal, by ERC chief executive Derek McGrath at a ceremony at the player’s home ground, the RDS.

“Sean was an inspirational character at the heart of the Leinster pack in their victorious Heineken Cup season and proved himself to be a major force both as a ball carrier and defender,†said McGrath.

“He played across the back row, scored vital tries and picked up three Heineken Man of the Match awards. His power, athleticism and consistency over the course of the Heineken Cup made him an excellent choice for the ERC European Player of the Year Award.â€

In 2010 ERC, the governing body of Europe’s two club rugby tournaments, launched the highly acclaimed ERC15 Awards, recognising the efforts of a number of outstanding contributors to the first decade and a half of European competition. The inaugural recipient of theERC European Player Award, as the best player over the first 15 years of these tournaments, was Munster’s Ronan O’Gara.

For the 2010/11 season ERC opted to present one award to recognise the best player of the season from both of its tournaments â€" the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup - selected by a panel of five experts.

The Selection Panel comprised three members of last year’s ERC15 Awards committee, Stuart Barnes (Sky Sports), Jean-Roger Delsaud (Midi Olympique) and Stephen Jones (Sunday Times). They were joined by Heineken Cup Ambassador, Raphael Ibanez, and Gerry Thornley (Irish Times).

After studying the performances of players from the 24 Heineken Cup and 20 Amlin Challenge Cup teams in this season's campaign the Selection Panel presented a five man shortlist to ERC:

• Jamie Heaslip Leinster
• Isa Nacewa Leinster
• Sean O'Brien Leinster
• Sergio Parisse Stade Francais Paris
• Soane Tonga'uiha Northampton Saints

The shortlist was also presented to the 44 clubs and their recommendations were factored into the deliberations of the Selection Panel which reconvened in Cardiff, host city for the two European finals, to complete the selection process. The winner was confirmed after all five shortlisted candidates had been seen in action in the two finals.

“It’s been a fantastic year for me, and more importantly for Leinster,†said O’Brien. “It’s great to be presented with an award like this, but it has more to do with the team than it has to do with me. Hopefully, this is only the start rather than the end of our success in Europe, and of course, we’ve got another trophy to aim at this weekend.â€

SEAN O’BRIEN FACTFILE
Born: 14 February, 1987, Ardistan, County Carlow
Height: 1.88 m (6' 2")
Weight: 108 kg (16 st 13 lb)
School: Tullow Community School
Province: Leinster
Clubs: UCD, Tullow
Ireland Caps: 9 (W7,L2)
Test Debut: Ireland v Fiji at Dublin, 21 November, 2009

Sean won caps for Ireland at Under 18, Youth, Under 20 and 21 levels, including a junior Grand Slam at Under 20 in 2007, and has now made 55 appearances (55 points) for Leinster. He has nine Irish caps to his credit to date.

SEAN O’BRIEN IN EUROPE: P18 W14 D1 L3
Sean won his second Heineken Cup winners medal in Cardiff last weekend having been an unused replacement in the 2009 final triumph over Leicester Tigers. He made his Heineken Cup debut for Leinster against Castres Olympique on 6 December, 2008, and has now played 18 times in Europe.

Heineken Cup 2008/09
06/12/2008 Rd 3 Leinster 33 - 3 Castres Olympique
17/01/2009 Rd 5 L.Wasps 19 - 12 Leinster
02/05/2009 S-F Munster 6 - 25 Leinster

Heineken Cup 2009/10
09/10/2009 Rd 1 Leinster 9 - 12 London Irish
17/10/2009 Rd 2 Brive 13 - 36 Leinster
12/12/2009 Rd 3 Scarlets 7 - 32 Leinster Try
19/12/2009 Rd 4 Leinster 39 - 7 Scarlets
16/01/2010 Rd 5 Leinster 27 - 10 Brive
23/01/2010 Rd 6 London Irish 11 - 11 Leinster

Heineken Cup 2010/11
09/10/2010 Rd 1 Leinster 38 - 22 Racing Metro (No 6 *) Try
16/10/2010 Rd 2 Saracens 23 - 25 Leinster (No 6)
12/12/2010 Rd 3 Clermont 20 - 13 Leinster (No 6)
18/12/2010 Rd 4 Leinster 24 - 8 Clermont (No 6) Try
15/01/2011 Rd 5 Leinster 43 - 20 Saracens (No 8 *) Try
21/01/2011 Rd 6 Racing Metro 11 - 36 Leinster (No 8 *) Try
09/04/2011 Q-F Leinster 17 - 10 Leicester Tigers (No 7)
30/04/2011 S-F Leinster 32 - 23 Toulouse (No 7)
21/05/2011 Final Leinster 33 - 22 Northampton Saints (No 7)

* = Heineken Man of the match​

 

[Jockstap]

Best player in the world at the minute. Leinster wouldn't have won the HC without him.

 

[Papachinzo]

amazing man, stand out player of the tournament!!!

 

[lucky number 7]

Best player in the world at the minute. Leinster wouldn't have won the HC without him.

Likes this alot

 

[Feicarsinn]

Shocked. I am shocked. Shocked.

 

[coonor]

Well deserved in my opinion

 

[ranger]

The best in the world and best in the world by position ***les get thrown around far too often..

 

[Logorrhea]

The best in the world and best in the world by position ***les get thrown around far too often..

Ahh I'm not sure how many people would call him that. The odd over enthusiastic Leinster fan maybe. He has had an impressive season, hes been part of an impressive team and backrow unit. He aint anywhere near the best, I wouldnt take it too seriously.

 

[Jockstap]

Ahh I'm not sure how many people would call him that. The odd over enthusiastic Leinster fan maybe. He has had an impressive season, hes been part of an impressive team and backrow unit. He aint anywhere near the best, I wouldnt take it too seriously.

What other six has had more impact on any other team in the world than SOB has had on Leinster, do you really think they would have won the HC this year without him? I certainly don't.

 

[Logorrhea]

Impact and actual performance are two different things. I think O'Brien is destined for greatness but he hasnt done it on the international stage yet. Hence I'd hold off on the plaudits.

 

[Teh Mite]

I still think Heaslip was far more important for Leinster.

 

[profitius]

What other six has had more impact on any other team in the world than SOB has had on Leinster, do you really think they would have won the HC this year without him? I certainly don't.

In every game he has played in the HEC he has been close to or MOTM. So it would have been harder without him, thats for sure.