Ireland internationals Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray and Tadhg Furlong have all been nominated for the EPCR Player of the Year award.
The Irish trio are currently in Spain for a Six Nations mini-camp but have received nominations for European Rugby’s highest individual honour.
The trio are listed among the 15 players nominated for the award which also includes Leinster duo Scott Fardy and Isa Nacewa as well as the Scarlets Tadhg Beirne.
La Rochelle have three players nominated with Levani Botia, Dany Priso and Victor Vito all recognised for their strong performances in the Pool stage, whilst the ASM Clermont Auvergne pair, Morgan Parra and Alivereti Raka, as well Gareth Davies of the Scarlets, are included among the nominees which was selected by a panel of renowned rugby experts.
Last year’s winner, Owen Farrell of Saracens, who received the inaugural Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy, has also been included.
Voting for the award is open now on www.championscuprugby.com/epoty and fans will be in the running to win two VIP tickets to the Challenge Cup and Champions Cup finals in Bilbao next May with one night’s accommodation courtesy of EPCR.
The list will be reduced to five players in April following the Champions Cup semi-finals by a combination of the public vote and the verdict of the panel of judges.
The voting will then be reopened and the winner of the 2018 award will be announced after the Champions Cup final in Bilbao on Saturday, 12 May.
EPCR European Player of the Year award nominees
Tadhg Beirne (Scarlets)
Levani Botia (La Rochelle)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets)
Scott Fardy (Leinster Rugby)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby)
Conor Murray (Munster Rugby)
Isa Nacewa (Leinster Rugby)
Leone Nakarawa (Racing 92)
Morgan Parra (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Dany Priso (La Rochelle)
Alivereti Raka (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Jonathan Sexton (Leinster Rugby)
Josua Tuisova (RC Toulon)
Victor Vito (La Rochelle)
Judging Panel: Stuart Barnes (Sky Sports/The Sunday Times), 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 – 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 club competitions).
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