DAN LYDIATE, ONE of the stars of Wales’s Grand Slam campaign, has been named as the Six Nations Player of the Championship for 2012.

The Welsh flanker turned in man-0f-the-match performances in the wins against Scotland and France and secured over 25% of votes for the award.

Irish out-half Jonny Sexton came in second place with 12%, followed by Italian captain Sergio Parisse in third with 11.6%.

Over 30,000 members of the public voted on the award, choosing Lydiate from a 12-man shortlist which featured every player to be named man of the match in the first four weeks of the tournament.

“I am really surprised to be honest. I am genuinely chuffed to bits,” the Newport Gwent Dragons star said.

It tops off an amazing competition for me and for Wales.  To be part of such a talented Wales team and win the Grand Slam in Cardiff on Saturday was incredible in itself but to then be voted Player of the Championship is absolutely unbelievable.

It is a massive honour to win, especially given the quality of the other players up for the award.  Thanks to everyone who voted for me, it means a lot.

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