Irish trio in hunt for award

Three Irish players are in contention for the ERC European Player of the Year Award.

Ronan O’Gara, Jonny Sexton and Stephen Ferris are amongst the 15 stars nominated from both the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup competitions this season. The ERC European Player of the Year winner will be announced next month.

SHORTLIST: M Botha Saracens), M Brown (Harlequins), A Claassen (Brive), T Dusautoir (Toulouse), O Farrell (Saracens), S Ferris (Ulster), W Fofana (ASM Clermont Auvergne), G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), J Sexton (Leinster), G Laidlaw (Edinburgh), T Matanavou (Toulouse), I Mieres (Exeter Chiefs), B Morgan (Scarlets), R O’Gara (Munster), N Talei (Edinburgh).