Saints star North shortlisted for big award

Saints star George North has been shortlisted for the European player of the year award.
George North is up for a top award (picture: Kirsty Edmonds)George North is up for a top award (picture: Kirsty Edmonds)
George North is up for a top award (picture: Kirsty Edmonds)

Selected by a panel of rugby experts, the list for one of the most prized individual accolades in the world game includes 15 players who have performed outstandingly during the 2015/16 season to date.

North, who has scored three tries in 14 appearances for his club this season, is the only Saint listed, but there are 10 other Aviva Premiership players up for the award.

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Saracens have four nominees, in Owen Farrell, George Kruis, Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola, while Leicester have Vereniki Goneva.

Exeter’s Thomas Waldrom is also in contention, along with Harlequins flanker Jack Clifford and Wasps trio Elliot Daly, Charles Piutau and George Smith.

The award has been won by an Englishman for the past three years, with Jonny Wilkinson taking it in 2013, Steffon Armitage in 2014 and Nick Abendanon in 2015.

EPCR European Player of the Year 2016 list

Steffon Armitage (RC Toulon)

Dan Carter (Racing 92)

Jack Clifford (Harlequins)

Elliot Daly (Wasps)

Owen Farrell (Saracens)

Vereniki Goneva (Leicester Tigers)

Guilhem Guirado (RC Toulon)

Juan Imhoff (Racing 92)

Maro Itoje (Saracens)

George Kruis (Saracens)

George North (Saints)

Charles Piutau (Wasps)

George Smith (Wasps)

Billy Vunipola (Saracens)

Thomas Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs)