Wilkinson handed players award

England star Jonny Wilkinson has been named players’ player of the year at a glittering awards ceremony in London.

The Newcastle fly-half emerged victorious from a short-list that also featured Gloucester flanker Jake Boer – this season’s Zurich Premiership player of the season – Saracens’ England back-row Richard Hill, Sale Sharks skipper Bryan Redpath and Northampton forward Andrew Blowers.