The RPA Rugby Players' Awards 2011

Information

The RPA Rugby Players' Awards Dinner was held at Grosvenor House Hotel, and attracted over 1,000 corporate clients, sponsors and players to celebrate the complete domestic rugby season from September 2010 - May 2011. The RPA Awards are the only domestic awards voted for by the players themselves and provide a fitting climax to the end of the season.

Leicester Tigers did the double at the 13th annual RPA Computacenter Rugby Players' Awards, scooping both the Computacenter Players' Player of the Year Award and the Norman Broadbent Young Player of the Year.

In the week of their Aviva Premiership Final against Saracens, the Tigers' preparations received a boost after the RPA members voted Thomas Waldrom the Computacenter Players' Player of the Year and his team-mate Manu Tuilagi theNorman Broadbent Young Player of the Year.

It is the second time that Leicester have taken both awards, following in the footsteps of Martin Corry and Harry Ellis who completed the prestigious double in 2005. Runner up in the Players' Player Award was Northampton Saints' and England flyer Chris Ashton and in third place was Harlequins mercurial fly-half Nick Evans.

Picking up the coveted Computacenter Players' Player of the Year Award, Thomas Waldrom followed in the footsetps of Neil Back, Jonny Wilkinson, Riki Flutey, Seilala Mapusua and Schalk Brits

Waldrom, who joined Leicester Tigers from the Canterbury Crusaders last summer, has been a sensation in his debut season in Northern Hemisphere rugby.
Waldrom said: "It's a huge honour to have won the Computacenter Players' Player of the Year and it has capped a great first season for me in the Premiership. I know it's always said, but being voted for by your fellow players really is a big deal. There's no greater compliment and I'd like to thank the players who voted for me. It was a total shock when I found out because there are so many fantastic players in the Premiership who could've won it. I was happy just to make the nominees list.

"I'd like to thank the whole team at the Tigers who've been tremendous since I've arrived. I'd particularly like to thank Craig Newby and Scott Hamilton who have shown me the ropes and helped me to settle in quickly. It's amazing to be seen in the same league as a player like Nick Evans who was also on the shortlist. I personally voted for Tom Wood. He puts in a tremendous amount of work and I think he's had a wonderful season.

The Norman Broadbent Young Player of the Year Award was awarded to Manu Tuilagi. The Leicester Tigers' centre has had a memorable debut year in the Premiership, also picking up the Young player of the season trophy at the Aviva Premiership Awards this month.

Tuilagi polled over 60% of the player votes finishing ahead of Northampton Saints' Tom Wood and Saracens' Owen Farrell.

Damian Hopley, CEO of the RPA, said: "Our congratulations go to Thomas and Manu for delivering a Leicester Tigers' clean sweep on the Awards voted for by the Players themselves. Tigers are now the only club to have taken both Players' Player and Young Player Awards in two separate years. The 2011 RPA Computacenter Awards has been another tremendous success, with over 1, 000 people joining some of the greats of the game, to support the RPA and raise essential funds for the RPA Benevolent Fund - The Professional Players Charity."

Other players recognised on the night were Danny Grewcock MBE, who won the HSBC Special Merit Award and Lawrence Dallaglio OBE who was inducted into the LV Hall of Fame.

Michael Claassens was awarded The Sunday Times Try of the Year for his try against Exeter Chiefs at the Rec on 9th April 2011, which was voted for by fans on http://www.therpa.co.uk/

James Tincknell received The Blyth Spirit Award, sponsored by Towergate tlc following his inspiring progress after a life-threatening car crash. The award is a special presentation from the RPA members for outstanding courage in the face of adversity.

RPA Computacenter Rugby Players' Awards 2011

Computacenter Players' Player of the Year
1. Thomas Waldrom, Leicester Tigers
2. Chris Ashton, Northampton Saints
3. Nick Evans, Harlequins

Norman Broadbent Young Player of the Year - The Nick Duncombe Memorial Award
1. Manu Tuilagi, Leicester Tigers
2. Tom Wood, Northampton Saints
3. Owen Farrell, Saracens

HSBC Special Merit Award

Danny Grewcock MBE

LV Hall of Fame Induction
Lawrence Dallaglio OBE

The Blyth Spirit Award sponsored by Towergate tlc
James Tincknell, Leeds Carnegie

The Sunday Times Try of the Year
1. Michael Claassens: Bath Rugbyv Exeter Chiefs: 9 April 2011
2. Schalk Brits: Saracensv Gloucester: 24 April 2011
3. Sireli Naqelevuki: Exeter Chiefsv Northampton Saints: 6 March 2011

The Awards Dinner provides an opportunity to entertain clients and prospective business associates, who are joined on the night by a host of past and present International and Premiership players.

Proceeds from the event go towards the RPA Benevolent Fund, which provides support to players suffering from serious illness of injury, and towards the players' welfare, insurance and education projects. Click here for more information on The Players' Charity.