Stander will be up against a Scot and two All-Blacks in the running for the accolade.

CJ Stander has waited a long time to win his first senior title as a professional rugby player, but he’s waiting another week to celebrate it properly.

South Africa-born back-rower CJ Stander says Ireland’s Six Nations Grand Slam bid against England is now the biggest game of his career.

CJ Stander has admitted NatWest 6 Nations champions Ireland's Grand Slam bid against England is now the biggest game of his career.

CJ Stander has described the loss to injury of Josh van der Flier for the rest of the season as a massive blow.

CJ Stander insists there will be plenty of plus points for Munster to take into Sunday’s must-win Champions Cup pool finale with Castres, despite defeat to Racing 92 in Paris.

The relief around Munster was palpable yesterday as the IRFU confirmed CJ Stander had followed Peter O’Mahony in signing a new three-year contract to keep him at the province until at least the summer of 2021.

The relief around Munster was palpable yesterday as the IRFU confirmed CJ Stander had followed Peter O’Mahony in signing a new three-year contract to keep him at the province until at least the summer of 2021.

If money was all that mattered there wouldn’t be a top-class professional rugby player left in Ireland.

CJ Stander is the latest high profile player being linked with a move away from Munster.

Joe Schmidt is gearing Ireland up for their toughest Six Nations yet.

Talk of revenge for Cardiff two years ago will fill many a column inch between now and Ireland’s meeting with Argentina on Saturday, but CJ Stander insists it isn’t a primary motivation for Joe Schmidt and his squad.

Stander admitted he was honoured by his captaincy cameo.

"He was an impressive man back then. He had a presence when he walked into a room."

CJ Stander may be Munster’s go-to ball carrier but he takes exception to Leinster head coach Leo Cullen’s analysis that if you stop him, you stop the reds in their tracks.

CJ Stander is relishing his return to action against a big and physical Cardiff Blues back row at Thomond Park tomorrow when Munster look to bounce back from their first defeat of the Guinness PRO14 season last weekend.

The full-back secured 24.6% of the public vote.

Hat-trick hero CJ Stander insists Ireland are still not back in the RBS 6 Nations title race despite thrashing Italy in Rome on Saturday.

His ban was reduced on account of his prior record.

Ireland's CJ Stander and his South African-born team-mates will bring their passion to bear in a green jersey over the forthcoming Test series and in a bid to show their former compatriots what they are missing, believes Irish forwards coach Simon Easterby.

CJ Stander bagged his third major award in nine days but yesterday’s Munster Rugby Player of the Year honour was, he said, the one that meant the most to him.

“You know what they are going to bring to the match, but I think that gives them another 10% drive to play the game.”

One thing that is making Irish fans very happy is the performance of CJ Stander.

“I know he has had really positive age-grade success but there is nothing like the senior Test match arena to find out how someone acquits themselves."

As you would expect to hear from a Munster captain, CJ Stander was putting team above the personal as the pressure valves were released at Thomond Park.

To say the weight has been lifted from CJ Stander’s shoulders by the end of Munster’s losing streak would be underplaying the relief the province’s captain is feeling as he heads to Paris.

Tommy O’Donnell has signed a contract extension days after CJ Stander extended his deal.

The new deal will see the South African back row remain with the province until at least June 2018.

Ospreys 18 Munster 20

One called him a legend, the other a colossus and both CJ Stander and Anthony Foley admitted how much Munster will miss Paul O’Connell when he plays his last game for the province in Saturday’s Guinness Pro12 final.

CJ Stander and Anthony Foley have promised Munster will be taking nothing for granted when lowly Newport Gwent Dragons visit Cork for the final Guinness Pro12 round of the regular season on Saturday.

Recent suggestions foreign players should serve a five-year residency — as opposed to three — before qualifying to play Test rugby for their adopted countries have, unsurprisingly, found little favour with Jared Payne.

CJ Stander acknowledged the encouragement and drive of his team-mates after being named Munster’s Player of the Year at the province’s 2015 Munster Rugby Awards in Cork yesterday.

Paul O’Connell is taking on on a very different opponent in Limerick today - part of a team tackling litter throughout the city and county.

CJ Stander will leave the personal plaudits on one side in the run-in to the Guinness Pro12 play-offs as Munster target not just a top-four finish but a home semi-final.

The emergence of IRFU “Project Player” Jared Payne as midfield successor to Brian O’Driscoll has whetted CJ Stander’s appetite to play for Ireland.