Mike Brown nominated for Premiership Player of the Season
By Premiership Rugby
April 25 2014
PREMIERSHIP Rugby today confirmed the shortlist for Aviva Premiership Rugby Player of the Season. Players of five different nationalities, from six different clubs make up the six-man shortlist, one from the England squad that finished second in the recent RBS 6 Nations.
"There were a number of compelling candidates for this prestigious title and it was very difficult to reduce it to a six-man shortlist," said Phil Winstanley, the Rugby Director at Premiership Rugby. "I think the panel managed to arrive at a very balanced list, forwards and backs side by side.
"We've had an incredible season so far, and the length of the deliberations for the awards reflects the current standard of Aviva Premiership Rugby. The closeness of the matches is reflected in the fact that no one club has more than one player on the shortlist.”
The shortlist for the 2013-14 award which will be announced at the Aviva Premiership Rugby Awards at the Hilton, Park Lane on 15 May is:
- Dan Braid – Sale Sharks
- Mike Brown - Harlequins
- Jacques Burger - Saracens
- Vereniki Goneva – Leicester Tigers
- Samu Manoa – Northampton Saints
- Chris Pennell – Worcester Warriors
Past winners
2012-13 – Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
2011-12: Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
2010-11: Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
2009-10: Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
2008-09: Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
2007-08: James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester Rugby)
2006-07: Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester Tigers)
2005-06: Mike Catt (London Irish)
2004-05: Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers)
The shortlist was compiled by a panel of media professionals – Stephen Jones (Sunday Times), Chris Hewett (The Independent), Nick Mullins (BT Sport), Ben Coles (Planet Rugby), Mick Cleary (Daily Telegraph), Jill Douglas (ITV Sport), Duncan Bech (Press Association), Alastair Eykyn (BT Sport) and David Rogers (Getty Images). They were joined by Phil Winstanley (Rugby Director at Premiership Rugby) and Paul Morgan (Premiership Rugby's Communication Director) who chaired the panel.
On 15 May the winners of the following Awards will be announced:
- Aviva Premiership Rugby Player of the Season
- Aviva Community Player of the Season
- Land Rover Discovery of the Season
- Guinness Director of Rugby of the Season
- ITV Sport Try of the Season
- Gilbert Golden Boot
- Top Try Scorer of the Season
- BT Sport Aviva Premiership Rugby Dream Team
- Gatorade Game Changer of the Season
- Green Flag Forward of the Season
The other shortlists will be announced over the next few days.
The winners will be announced on Thursday 15 May at the sold out Aviva Premiership Rugby Awards at the Hilton, Park Lane. The event will be covered live on Twitter via the @premrugby account
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Aviva Prem
Wardy & Danny desrved inclusion IMHO (he says wearing his quartered colour specs)
#COYQ
West Stand, Block FD, Row S (if renewed)
@JT075 #COYQ
As always he has played exceptionally well for us this season but is behind Ward, Care and Easter for me with regards to Quins best player this time around.
Ward has been fantastic, his turnover work is brilliant, he is a hooker who actually hooks, and he runs the sort of game breaking lines that Jo Gray was doing two years ago. However, the number of not straights at the line-out is simply awful, so I'd rule him out until he improves that. You can't be player of the year if one of the fundamental parts of your job is not going well.
Mike Brown is always consistently excellent. He drags us back into games which we look like we have lost, and wins us games which we don't always deserve. Its hard to look past him.
But...
Think about where Danny was a year ago and where he is now. Not only has he been excellent on the pitch, but he has become a real role-model and credit to the club. But the award is for playing not being. Even so, his cheeky drop goals have put fear and doubt into the oppos minds, his sniping runs cause them to hesitate and give NEV half a yard more space, his quick tap penalties have brought us a fistful of tries. At the moment, I would say his presence on the field makes more difference than anyone else, and that is even despite the fact that Karl is usually an excellent back up.
So its DC for me.
Oh plus it would be a nice present for the new dad!
O Fortuna, velut luna statu variabilis,
semper crescis aut decrescis
O Fortuna, velut luna statu variabilis,
semper crescis aut decrescis
Quote:Quartermaster
I think Mikes inclusion has been influenced by his international appearances.
As always he has played exceptionally well for us this season but is behind Ward, Care and Easter for me with regards to Quins best player this time around.
Agreed. IRB player of the year without a doubt, but far from the best at his club in the AP.
Quote:Jammy Git
Why *has* Burger been nominated anyway? He was out for half the season.
For reference, the 'minutes played' from each nominee are as follows:
Pennell - 1600, Braid - 1426, Goneva - 1277, Manoa - 1113, Brown - 996, Burger - 809
As seems to be the case with Brown, I wouldn't say Burger would be my top choice just from Sarries. I'd have Ashton, Kruis and Billy V ahead.
I can see why he was picked though, his contributions are fairly eye-catching (like Brown's). The 36 tackles down at Exeter probably swung it.
O Fortuna, velut luna statu variabilis,
semper crescis aut decrescis
Quote:Thanks for the stats. I think the Player of the Season should be the guy most influential over the season - so Pennell/Braid/Goneva would be my three there, with Care and probably a number of Saracens ahead of Brown and Burger.
Probably not the best day to discuss Care but I agree he's had a very good season.
My vote for all-round excellence would be Braid but I think Goneva will get it for X-factor and sheer watchability.