Following the conclusion of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup pool stages, European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) have released the 15-player longlist for the EPCR Player of the Year.

The list includes current EPCR Player of the Year, Josh van der Flier, and 2021 winner Antoine Dupont.

The panel of judges

Fans have the opportunity to vote for their preferred candidate, with the EPCR stating that the list will be reduced to five players after the semi-finals by a combination of the public vote and the verdict of the judges, and players who have not been included in the initial longlist, but who make a significant impact during the knockout stages. 

The judges who decided on the longlist include former Springbok winger and two-time Champions Cup winner Bryan Habana, former England captain Sarah Hunter, two-time Champions Cup winner Andy Goode and France legend Dimitri Yachvili. 

Breakdown

The list includes Rugby World Cup winners Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi and Makazole Mapimpi, with the Sharks the joint most represented club, with Springbok scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse also nominated.

Leinster also have four nominees, with Garry Ringrose, Caelan Doris, and Jamie Osborne nominated along with van der Flier.

Munster’s Gavin Coombes is the only other Irishman nominated, while Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric the lone Welshman making the cut.

After his dazzling displays in the pool stages, Saracens’ back Elliot Daly is the lone English and Premiership player nominated.

Dupont, however, is joined by clubmates Julien Marchand and Emmanuel Meafou, with fellow Top 14 side La Rochelle producing just one nominee in Gregory Alldritt.

The winner of the award will receive the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy in memory of the former Munster Rugby Head Coach and captain.

2023 EPCR Player of the Year Nominees

Grégory Alldritt (Stade Rochelais)

Gavin Coombes (Munster Rugby) 

Caelan Doris (Leinster Rugby)

Elliot Daly (Saracens)

Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain)

Eben Etzebeth (Sharks) 

Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks) 

Siya Kolisi (Sharks) 

Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks) 

Julien Marchand (Stade Toulousain) 

Emmanuel Meafou (Stade Toulousain)

Jamie Osborne (Leinster Rugby)

Garry Ringrose (Leinster Rugby)

Justin Tipuric (Ospreys)

Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby)

Vote here

Previous EPCR Player of the Year award Winners

2022: Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby)

2021: Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain)

2020: Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)

2019: Alex Goode (Saracens)

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)

READ MORE: Six Nations: The greatest line-up in the history of the Championship

The article Champions Cup: The 15-player longlist for EPCR Player of the Year appeared first on Planetrugby.com.