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Despite a poor performance against Wasps, Madigan made the longlist. Andrew Fosker/INPHO
Awards Season

Two Irishman have made the longlist for European Rugby Player of the Year

But they were the only two players from the Pro12 to be included.

THE POWER OF the Anglo-French axis in European rugby was illustrated once again today with the release of the longlist for the European Player of the Year award.

Leinster were the only PRO12 representative in the Champions Cup quarter-finals and it was a similar story today with Ian Madigan and Jamie Heaslip the only players on the 15-man list not to represent a French or an English club.

It might seem a little premature to release the list before the knockout rounds have been played but the panel of judges, of which Alan Quinlan and Dmitri Yachvili are a part of, can add further players later on in the tournament.

EPCR European Player of the Year 2015 longlist

Nick Abendanon (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Steffon Armitage (RC Toulon)
Chris Ashton (Saracens)
Jamie Heaslip (Leinster Rugby)
Juan Imhoff (Racing Metro 92)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Fritz Lee (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Camille Lopez (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Ian Madigan (Leinster Rugby)
George North (Northampton Saints)
Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro 92)
Aurélien Rougerie (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Nicolas Sanchez (RC Toulon)
Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing Metro 92)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)

It is pretty disheartening that not a single player in the Pro12 other than Madigan and Heaslip were considered worthy of inclusion but that is the state of European rugby at present.

If you were giving the award today it would probably be Armitage first and maybe North second but there is still a lot of rugby left to be played.

Would you have had any other Pro12 players on the list? Who do you think deserves the award on current form?

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