RPA Players Player of The Year

Next Wednesday the Rugy Players Association hosts it's annual awards dinner for English Rugby. There are a variety of Honourable Awards (including Charlie Hodgson) but the most interesting awards are those for AP Player of the Year, AP Young Player of the year and England player of the year. These awards are voted for by the players and for the first two look solely at performances in the AP. The nominees for these two are:

Player of the Year
Thomas Waldrom
Charles Piutau
George Smith
Nathan Huges
Andy Goode


Young Player of the Year
Jack Clifford
Elliot Daly
Maro Itoje
Harry Mallinder
Harry Thacker


England Player of the Year
As voted for by the EPS members
James Haskell
George Kruis
Chris Robshaw
Billy Vunipola
Anthony Watson

For me - it should be between George Smith and Thomas Waldrom for the seniors and young player should be Clifford or Itoje

I think George Smith was transformational for Wasps. Impact far greater then just his play in matches. To me, no one else is close.
Except Andy Goode, who will win the Round Rugby Player of the Year award. He only played between servings of cheeseburgers. A hero to everyday folk the world over.

Young player award will likely go to Itoje, if for no other reason to keep the 5000 or 6000 actual Sarries fans who show up for their matches happy. Prince Harry (future England and Lions captain) did not play enough matches this season to merit the award.

I'm truly astounded that AG made the list ... perhaps someone misunderstood the question.

Harry Thacker vs Itoje for young player. Goode for player of the season, he transformed Falcons and saved them.

Richard Wigglesworth not happy with the list! Making claims that players voted players from clubs other then Sarries on purpose.

Smith or Goode for player, a part of me really wants to see the photos of an over weight, old, balding bloke go pick up the player of the season award!

Itoje for the young player award. I really don't want him to have it as it'll make the BT/Sky hype train go totally over board. But you can't say he doesn't deserve it.

yappysnap wrote:Richard Wigglesworth not happy with the list! Making claims that players voted players from clubs other then Sarries on purpose.

and i thought Sarries were about the team, not the individual?

He really should wait and see who gets voted into the RPA team of the year before he moans. Even then it seems rather churlish of him to accuse fellow players of doing that - fans woudl do it, but players I would expect have a lot more respect for each other.

Goode being nominated is an absolute joke. He played about five games...

And if what we believe to be the case is true you'd have to question rugby values etc

doctor_grey wrote:I think George Smith was transformational for Wasps.  Impact far greater then just his play in matches.  To me, no one else is close.  
Except Andy Goode, who will win the Round Rugby Player of the Year award.  He only played between servings of cheeseburgers.  A hero to everyday folk the world over.    

Young player award will likely go to Itoje, if for no other reason to keep the 5000 or 6000 actual Sarries fans who show up for their matches happy.  Prince Harry (future England and Lions captain) did not play enough matches this season to merit the award.  

Def agree with Smtih and Itoje.

Will say that Thacker has played 21 games this season TBF.

Judging the rabid outpourings of praise throughout the Six Nations, if Itoje does not win, then I expect these boards to melt into infinity and to see the Seven Horsemen in my local Starbucks getting their java hit before going to work.

SirBurger wrote:Goode being nominated is an absolute joke. He played about five games...

Those 5 games were pretty much the difference between a club being relegated or staying up though, so a good impact.

And I get the sense he's well liked.

Perhaps the players voted for him because of all he's done

George Carlin wrote:Judging the rabid outpourings of praise throughout the Six Nations, if Itoje does not win, then I expect these boards to melt into infinity and to see the Seven Horsemen in my local Starbucks getting their java hit before going to work.

Don't worry George, Itoje will win. If he doesn't then you'll have more then the 7 Horsemen to worry about. Imagine what all 50 Sarries fans could do when they get upset!

yappysnap wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Judging the rabid outpourings of praise throughout the Six Nations, if Itoje does not win, then I expect these boards to melt into infinity and to see the Seven Horsemen in my local Starbucks getting their java hit before going to work.

Don't worry George, Itoje will win. If he doesn't then you'll have more then the 7 Horsemen to worry about. Imagine what all 50 Sarries fans could do when they get upset!

Sing a song?

While waggling their fingers at you LT. Picture that.

I'd love to see Piutau getting the gong, simply because next season, he's ours

OP updated with the nominees for England Player of the year award. Only members of the EPS allowed to vote.

Smith


Itoje


Kruis


In my opinion. Though most are reasonable choices

LondonTiger wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Richard Wigglesworth not happy with the list! Making claims that players voted players from clubs other then Sarries on purpose.

and i thought Sarries were about the team, not the individual?

He really should wait and see who gets voted into the RPA team of the year before he moans. Even then it seems rather churlish of him to accuse fellow players of doing that - fans woudl do it, but players I would expect have a lot more respect for each other.

Scrum half is gobby, shocker?

Robshaw just keeps on getting recognised by everyone other then the press

yappysnap wrote:Robshaw just keeps on getting recognised by everyone other then the press

I'm not convinced that all of the rugby "journalists" actually watch the matches they comment on

I'm pretty convinced most of them have their columns pre written, and won't let a little thing like the match get in the way

Generally the press have been quite complimentary over the years, he has been Journalists Player of the Year for example.

I think it is fans and the part time pundits who tend to dislike.

What no Glaws players??

I think a little club bias may be creeping into this re the young player of the year. Itoje is streets ahead of anyone else and whilst Thacker, Clifford and Prince Harry (or 36.2) have had good seasons, Daly is the clear 2nd choice.

George Smith should also be a shoe in for the player of the year. His work rate and link play are simply outstanding and he'll be a big loss to the Jeff next season.

For the England player, Kruis should get it for performance, however, given the hell Robshaw went through post RWC he deserves it.

Nevertheless, I think Matt Kvesic should win all 3...

Smith, Itoje, Kruis for me too.

Meh no Glous players have been massively impressive TBH.

Only Kvesic could feel hard done by IMO.

HongKongCherry wrote:... Prince Harry (or 36.2) ...

I like that

Would it be unfair to do an un-player of the season award? Based on conduct, form, expectation and reality...

My shortlist would be:
Paice - so many silly yellow cards, probably more of a lifetime award
Marler - played well but let himself down
Farrell - so many reckless tackles, gobby to refs too
Franks - won 2 RWC's, an ex AB, been utterly muh
L Dickson - horribly, horribly, slow. at every single. breakdown
PDJ - does he even play any more?

Yappy, do you mind. PDJ has played 18 games or 529 minutes this season; he has been effective for at least 2 minutes of that time too

That's literally 4x more effective then he was for Quins HK. You lucky people!

Winners:

George Smith - Player
Maro Itoje - Young Player
Billy Vunipola - England
Sarah Hunter - England Ladies
Dan Bibby - 7s
Charlie Hodgson - Lifetime achievement
Henry Fraser - Blythe Spirit (Will's disabled brother)
Rob Hawkins - Development
Jack Lam - Championship
Brian O'Driscoll - Hall of Fame

LondonTiger wrote:Winners:

George Smith - Player
Maro Itoje - Young Player
Billy Vunipola - England
Sarah Hunter - England Ladies
Dan Bibby - 7s
Charlie Hodgson - Lifetime achievement
Henry Fraser - Blythe Spirit (Will's disabled brother)
Rob Hawkins - Development
Jack Lam - Championship
Brian O'Driscoll - Hall of Fame

Seems a perfectly reasonable list of winners.

Agreed.

What's the remit of the RPA? Is it supposed to cover the RFU umbrella? If so then shouldn't the Hall of Famers only be those that have played in the RFU leagues or represented country?

Hall of Fame can be anyone, just only RPA members allowed to vote.

Inductees to any Hall of Fame tend to be designed to use a players fame to promote the organisation. So people who know BOD may now know RPA.

Last years Jonny Wilkinson was inducted, joining people like Martin Johnson, Jason Robinson, Michael Lynagh and Gareth Edwards.

OK - fair enough. Makes sense