The RPA Players’ Awards 2017 in association with England Rugby took place yesterday evening at the Battersea Evolution in London.
Tamara Taylor (Photo: England Rugby)
In total ten awards were made on the night but there was only one for women’s rugby.
That award, England Women’s Player of the Year went to to the incredible Tamara Taylor.
Taylor earned her 102nd cap in the Six Nations finale as England won the Grand Slam for the first time since 2011, she is a stalwart on the pitch and a leader on and off and this award, voted by her peers, is a tribute to those qualities.
It must have been a tough choice, however, as the other nominees were Harriet Millar- Mills and Emily Scarratt.
So why only one award for the female players? Why isn’t there a women’s sevens player and a young player at least?
Emily Scarratt (Photo: Inpho)
Perhaps after the Women’s World Cup this summer, which is being staged in Ireland, the women’s game will receive a little more attention, visibility and recognition, I really hope so.
Here is a list of all the awards and winners from last night:
The 02 England Women’s Player of the Year
Winner: Tamara Taylor
Nominated: Harriet Millar-Mills
Nominated: Emily Scarratt
The RPA Players’ Player of the Year in association with England Rugby
Winner: Jimmy Gopperth – Wasps
Nominated: Elliot Daly – Wasps
Nominated: Owen Farrell – Saracens
Nominated: Louis Picamoles – Northampton Saints
Nominated: Christian Wade – Wasps
Harriet Millar-Mills (Photo: Inpho)
The RPA Young Player of the Year
Winner: Zach Mercer – Bath Rugby
Nominated: Ellis Genge – Leicester Tigers
Nominated: Alex Lozowski – Saracens
Nominated: Joe Marchant – Harlequins
Nominated: Ross Moriarty – Gloucester Rugby
The England Player of the Year in association with Beats
Winner: Owen Farrell
Nominated: Joe Launchbury
Nominated: Courtney Lawes
The Secure Trading England Sevens Player of the Year
Winner: Richard de Carpentier
Nominated: Ruaridh McConnochie
Nominated: Tom Mitchell
Nominated: Dan Norton
The Greene King IPA Championship Player of the Year
Winner: Mark Bright – Ealing Trailfinders
Nominated: Ryan Burrows – Yorkshire Carnegie
Nominated: James Marshall – London Irish
The Personal Development Programme Award
Winner: Nick de Luca – Wasps
Nominated: Tom Court – London Irish
Nominated: Sam Smith – Former Worcester Warriors and Harlequins
The RPA Special Merit Award in association with Premiership Rugby
Winner: Nick Easter
The RPA Blyth Spirit Award in association with Towergate Insurance
Winner: Paul Van-Zandvliet
The RPA Hall of Fame Induction in association with KPMG
Winner: Dan Carter
Information courtesy of the RPA
