Brothers in Armitage: London Irish duo nominated for PRA Computacenter Rugby Players' Awards
After both making their England debuts this season, Delon is nominated for Players' Player while younger brother Steffon lines up on the shortlist for Young Player.
On hearing the news of their nominations, Delon Armitage said: "It's a tremendous honour to be nominated by my peers for this award, and for Steffon and I both to be nominated is a fabulous surprise and a proud moment for our family.
"This has been a remarkable season for me, which will hopefully continue beyond this weekend, and to be nominated alongside the outstanding names on this list is a privilege I am both proud and humble to receive."
Steffon Armitage said: "It is great news for both Delon and I to be nominated for the PRA Awards. This season has been better than I dared to dream, and to be recognised by our fellow players for these awards is a huge honour. We are both hoping to finish the club season strongly for London Irish, and to receive the news of these nominations is a great boost for us."
Delon is joined on the list for the prestigious PRA Computacenter Players' Player of the Year Award by Sale Sharks' captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Ben Foden (Northampton Saints), London Irish team mate Seilala Mapusua and Tom May (Newcastle Falcons).
Foden, who also made his England debut this season, features again on the shortlist for the PRA Norman Broadbent Young Player of the Year Award, where he is joined by Steffon Armitage (London Irish), Danny Care (Harlequins), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers) and Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins).
This year's nomination is a second in succession for Young Player nominees Care and Croft, whilst Foden's double nomination follows that of Danny Cipriani last year, when the fly half went on to win the Young Player Award 2008.
The winners will be announced at the PRA Computacenter Rugby Players' Awards Dinner on May 13th. Over 100 current and former players will be attending this end of season celebration of the players' achievements, showing their support for both the PRA and its registered charity, The PRA Benevolent Fund, assisting players and their families in the event of serious injury or illness
Damian Hopley, PRA CEO said: "The coming weeks promise some exciting rugby: qualification for the Guinness Premiership play offs is the closest in the history of the competition, and the build up to the Lions tour of South Africa has begun with this week's squad announcement. With last year's Players' Player, Riki Flutey on the plane to South Africa, and several of this year's nominees eyeing a place in the Guinness Premiership final, it speaks volumes for the high quality of our nominees.
"The winners will be announced in front of an audience of stars from the Guinness Premiership and the International game next month, on what promises to be another outstanding evening in the rugby calendar. It is an opportunity for the PRA and rugby supporters to show our thanks and appreciation to the players for their efforts this season, and to raise some much needed funds for deserving player causes.
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For more information on all the 2009 nominees, click here
The nominations in full are:
PRA Computacenter Players' Player of the Year
Delon Armitage - London Irish
Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe - Sale Sharks
Ben Foden - Northampton Saints
Seilala Mapusua - London Irish
Tom May - Newcastle FalconsPRA Norman Broadbent Young Player of the Year - The Nick Duncombe Memorial Trophy
Steffon Armitage - London Irish
Danny Care - Harlequins
Tom Croft - Leicester Tigers
Ben Foden - Northampton Saints
Jordan Turner-Hall - Harlequins
Other awards to be presented at the PRA Computacenter Awards Dinner are:
PRA Special Merit Award
HSBC Hall of Fame Induction
Towergate tlc Blyth Spirit Award
The Sunday Times Try of the YearYou can see the winners receive their awards, as a small number of places are still available at the PRA Computacenter Rugby Players' Awards Dinner, on May 13th at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
For more information and bookings, contact Louise Kaiser on 020 8831 7930 or lkaiser@prarugby.com Alternatively, click here for more details about the dinner.
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