Leinster Rugby players Johnny Sexton, Scott Fardy and Tadhg Furlong have all been shortlisted for the EPCR European Player of the Year award.
Fardy, Furlong and Sexton are joined on the shortlist by Racing second-row Leone Nakarawa and teammate Maxime Machenaud, who was not included in the original 15-man longlist released by the EPCR in January.
The five-man shortlist was determined based on the combined verdict of a distinguished panel of rugby experts, which included former Leinster and Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll, and the public vote.
The last Irish player to win the award was Leinster full-back Rob Kearney who claimed the honour following his side’s 2012 Heineken Cup final win over Ulster.
Public voting is now open on epcrugby.com/epoty and will close following the Champions Cup final at the San Mamés Stadium on 12 May.
The winner of the award will receive the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy, a specially-struck commemorative medal and one million air miles courtesy of Turkish Airlines.
Shortlist for EPCR European Player of the Year 2018 – presented by Turkish Airlines
Scott Fardy (Leinster Rugby)
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby)
Maxime Machenaud (Racing 92)
Leone Nakarawa (Racing 92)
Johnny Sexton (Leinster Rugby)
2017/18 panel of judges: 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; European Player Award 1995-2010)
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