KIWI OUT-HALF Jimmy Gopperth was named the Rugby Players’ Association’s Player of the Year last night.
The Wasps playmaker, who had a two-year stint at Leinster while Jonathan Sexton played for Racing Metro, took the gong ahead of England international team-mates Elliott Daly and Christian Wade as well as Saracens’ Owen Farrell and Northampton Saints’ Louis Picamoles. Though Farrell did walk away with a prize in the shape of the England Player of Year award.
Gopperth topped the Premiership scoring charts with 266 points, including nine tries and seven try assists while guiding Wasps to finish top of the table. He also played a role at inside centre, notably the Champions Cup quarter-final loss to Leinster, when coach Dai Young opted to play Danny Cipriani in the 10 channel.
Second row Tamara Taylor was crowned Women’s Player of the Year after helping England power to a Grand Slam win over Ireland in Dublin in March.
Lions tourist Ross Moriarty lost out in the Young Player of the Year category to 19-year-old Bath back row Zach Mercer, who also collected a title for the U20s in Donnybrook on St Patrick’s Day.
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