England stars among nominees for top award

ENGLAND Grand Slam stars Richard Hill and Jonny Wilkinson are among five players nominated for one of British rugby’s most prestigious prizes.

Saracens flanker Hill and Newcastle fly-half Wilkinson feature among the contenders for this season's PRPA players' player of the year award.

Northampton's former All Blacks flanker Andrew Blowers, Sale Sharks and Scotland skipper Bryan Redpath and Gloucester captain Jake Boer have also been nominated.

The young player award sees three Gloucester players short-listed James Forrester, Marcel Garvey and James Simpson-Daniel in addition to Sale Sharks lock Chris Jones and Leicester centre Ollie Smith.

The winners will be announced at the PRPA awards night on May 27.

Gareth Delve last night made the quantum leap from Zurich Premiership obscurity to Wales' southern hemisphere tour squad, and admitted: "It is a massive shock."

Delve could win his first cap this summer either against Australia on June 14, or New Zealand a week later without having started a senior club game.

All six of the 20-year-old's appearances for Premiership strugglers Bath have been as a replacement, and he has already faced tough battles to overcome serious shoulder and knee injuries during his fledgling career.

But Wales coach Steve Hansen has no doubt about Delve's potential, preferring to take the Cardiff-born youngster Down Under while more established back-row forwards such as his Bath colleague Gavin Thomas and Pontypridd's Richard Parks stay at home.

Delve is joined in the 30-man party by two other uncapped players Neath prop Adam Jones and Leeds flanker Alix Popham.