Heaslip named in shortlist for European Player of the Year award

Leinster and Ireland forward Jamie Heaslip has been nominated for the 2013 European Player of the Year award.

Heaslip, who captains Leinster into tonight’s Amlin Challenge Cup final against Stade Francais, makes the grade based on some impressive performances in the knock-out stages.

Jonny Wilkinson has also been named as one of the five nominees for the award

The Toulon fly-half was not among the original 15-man long-list, which was compiled in January and based on performances in the pool stages of both the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup.

But Wilkinson forced his way into contention with outstanding performances in the knockout stages as Toulon beat Leicester and Saracens to reach tomorrow’s Heineken Cup final.

Clermont Auvergne, Toulon’s opponents in Dublin, provide three nominees in New Zealand wing Sitiveni Sivivatu, French centre Wesley Fofana and loose forward Julien Bonnaire.

Tournament organisers European Rugby Cup Ltd (ERC) said the winner would be announced “shortly after the conclusion of this weekend’s Dublin finals”.