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The 8 player shortlist for the 2024 Champions Cup Player of the Year
The European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) has confirmed the shortlist for the 2024 Investec Champions Cup Player of the Year.
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This year’s nominees include four Leinster players: Caelan Doris, Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, and Dan Sheehan. Northampton Saints’ Courtney Lawes and Fin Smith are also on the list, along with Antoine Dupont from Stade Toulousain and Marcus Smith of Harlequins.
Leinster – who are set to face Northampton Saints at Dublin’s Croke Park in the upcoming Investec Champions Cup semi-final – has a strong representation thanks to their dominant performance this season.
They reached the semi-finals after defeating the defending champions Stade Rochelais in both the pool stage and the recent quarter-final, as well as breezing past Leicester Tigers.
The contributions of Ireland stars Doris, Gibson-Park, Lowe, and Sheehan have been crucial.
Northampton’s nominees reflect their key roles in the team’s first semi-final appearance since 2011. Lawes has lead the pack while England rookie Fin Smith has stepped up to the plate in terms at flyhalf.
Dupont – the 2021 Player of the Year – continues to be a standout for Stade Toulousain as they aim for a record sixth title. It comes despite his foray on the HSBC SVNS circuit with France.
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Meanwhile England star Marcus Smith has been central to Harlequins’ unprecedented success in Europe this season, maybe most eye-catchingly during their narrow 42-41 victory over Union Bordeaux-Begles last weekend.
The nominations were decided through a combination of public voting and expert analysis by a panel of judges. The panel includes Jim Hamilton, a two-time Investec Champions Cup winner; Francois Louw, a 2019 Rugby World Cup winner; Ugo Monye, a broadcaster and two-time EPCR Challenge Cup winner; Elma Smit, a sports presenter and producer; and Dimitri Yachvili, a commentator and EPCR Challenge Cup winner.
The public has the opportunity to influence the outcome once more by casting votes at epcrugby.com/ipoty. The winner, who will also receive the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy, will be announced after the Investec Champions Cup final scheduled at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 25.
2024 Investec Player of the Year nominees
Caelan Doris (Leinster Rugby)
Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain)
Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
James Lowe (Leinster Rugby)
Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
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Roll of Honour
2023: Gregory Alldritt (Stade Rochelais)
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 club rugby)
Comments on RugbyPass
Not a fan of Penney to be fair as I don’t see him able to perform at SR level. However he has stepped into a bit of a mess with so many long service players leaving. No matter how good a coach us he can’t wave a magic wind and turn young pups into Crusaders in 5 mins. Wheaven to accept this is a complete rebuild of players and culture. Have some patience just as the other teams have had in years gone by
29 Go to commentsWhat is Ben’s point exactly? Cause if it’s that the ABs should’ve won that game, then yes I think every AB fan would agree with that. But the DIDN'T. You need luck to go your way and it went the Springboks way, just as it went the ABs way in 2011. Given that this article is written 6 months after the final shows that Ben is still incredibly butthurt. Time to move on Mr Smith. Maybe join something that suits your bias… i’m thinking the Australian commentary panel?
9 Go to commentsSA players and fans calling the irish arrogant, ooh the irony!!
78 Go to commentsPersonally i’d have BB off the bench and DMac as 10. BB seems to have more ‘average’ games and less ability to mix it up on the fly than DMac,
6 Go to commentsBen’s Myth History is written by the guy who does the engraving on the trophy. Took Ben six months to write this piece.
9 Go to commentsThis article should have been written immediately after the final, not half a year later. While the content of the article is accurate with the references to the cruel bounce to Savea right before the try line, Etzebeth’s cynical infringement, and the inconsistent cards, some of the hyperbole emotional statements are unnecessary and gaslighting. The fact remains that the Springboks took their scoring opportunities. They had amazing defence throughout the entire match (limiting the ABs to one try is very respectable), their scrum was pretty good and they had quite a solid lineout despite having a part-time hooker throwing the ball in. Let’s give credit where credit is due and move forward. The Springboks won because they know how to win big games through strong defence and kicking, and they had lady luck on their side on the day. The All Blacks miraculously made the final despite everyone’s predictions and could’ve won the whole damn thing with 14 men who should’ve taken better advantage of their scoring chances and committed less mistakes (shoddy lineouts, dropped balls, some poor kicks and passing, etc), and an average coach and captain with some questionable tactics (Jordie kicking for goal late in the game from a dodgy position and perhaps the wrong game plan overall). Time to move on.
9 Go to commentsThere’s no doubt the All Blacks were the better team on the day, but it’s not enough to be better, you also have to have luck.
9 Go to commentsI dunno, Ben. It does feel a little like you are just in denial that the Springboks are really good. Good enough to win two straight world cups.
9 Go to commentsAre we still talking about the World Cup final in May? The final took place more than 6 months ago. Isn’t it time to move on?
9 Go to commentsIt looks like the trauma counseling is not helping the Ben Smith troll much. He is still trying to convince his little brain that his loser team won the RWC.
9 Go to commentsOh dear, Jon. Ben Smith’s Saffer clickbait was at least backed up by some rationale!
9 Go to commentsThe more direct approach to your past time this time I see Ben. Look, it doesn’t need to be said, anyone watching the match knows the ABs played better and just got robbed by the officiating, but lets face it, their dominance in the match was only because South Africa choked and forgot how to play rugby with the ball. South Africa were still the better side. Of course Ireland and France were also better sides that New Zealand. Possibly even England on WC performances.
9 Go to commentsGreat mythology - no surprises Ox didn't talk about being driven backwards by Laulala in the RWC final!
4 Go to commentsJust shows how a hand up can help as long as the invitation is accepted. Good story.
1 Go to commentsKarma is a powerful force
22 Go to commentsFrench players said the same thing to the All Blacks after their pool match in 2011. But the French can back up their s**t talk with action.
78 Go to commentsThe problem is the officiating & changing rulings,& TMOs.Last weekend I saw a 9 penalized for a crooked scrum feed! the last time I saw that rule applied was In about 1975!!!!!!!!.Late or not the incident is history & Australians alleging that Kiwi rugby supporters wear eye patches is a bit rich.Try listening to Australian Commentators.Every new player who has an above average game is suddenly the next great sensation.
22 Go to commentsEvery Irish fan in the stadium celebrated like they had won the tournament after the SA and Scotland games so yeah, the way Etzebeth tells it stacks up. It was definitely ‘In Their Heads’!
78 Go to commentsEtsebeth is right about 1 thing. Boks after winning a RWC have been crap. Only in 2009 did they reach the heights of what a RWC Champion should look like but that was only after 3rd/last in the TriN 2008. Lost a home series in 1996 (vs ABs); didnt win even 1 x Rugby Championship after 2019. ABs and Wallabies and England at least played like Champions after winning RWC.
78 Go to commentsCrusaders will knock one of the top seeds out in the first round, hope it’s not my Chiefs
29 Go to comments