Elite players from seven different clubs and all three European professional leagues are among the 15 nominees for the prestigious EPCR European Player of the Year award.

Last season’s winner, Leone Nakarawa, who played a key role in Racing 92’s qualification for the Heineken Champions Cup quarterfinals, is nominated once again along with his teammates, Finn Russell and Simon Zebo, while No. 1-ranked, Saracens, have two representatives in Alex Goode and Mako Vunipola following their 100 percent record in yet another impressive pool stage performance.

Toulouse, who face Racing 92 in an intriguing all-French quarterfinal at the end of March, have Antoine Dupont and the livewire Cheslin Kolbe in the list, and not surprisingly, Edinburgh Rugby’s Viliame Mata is included on the back of several outstanding displays during the pool stage.

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Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong and Garry Ringrose are nominated from Heineken Champions Cup holders Leinster Rugby, while Ulster Rugby’s try machine Jacob Stockdale also gets the vote of the expert panel of judges. Munster Rugby are able to match Leinster’s representation with Tadhg Beirne, Joey Carbery and club captain Peter O’Mahony featuring in the star-studded longlist. 

The winner of one of the most prized individual accolades in the world game will receive a specially struck gold medal, as well as the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy. 

Voting for the award is now open HERE and those who vote will be enter for a chance to win two VIP tickets to the Heineken Champions Cup final in Newcastle next May with one night’s accommodation, courtesy of EPCR, and a signed jersey of one of the Heineken Champions Cup finalist clubs. 

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The list will be reduced to five players in April following the Heineken Champions Cup semifinals by a combination of the public vote and the verdict of the judges, and players who have not been included in initial list of 15, but who make a significant impact in a quarterfinal or semifinal match, may be considered for the short list. 

The voting will then re-open and the winner of the 2019 award will be announced following the Heineken Champions Cup final at St. James’ Park on Saturday, May 11.

EPCR European Player of the Year 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)

Judging Panel: Bryan Habana (Channel 4), Chris Jones (BBC Radio 5 Live), Matthieu Lartot (France Télévisions), Emmanuel Massicard (Midi Olympique), Brian O’Driscoll (BT Sport), Dimitri Yachvili (beIN Sports).

Roll of Honour – 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 professional club competitions)