Ulster duo make shortlist for European Player of the Year

JOHN Cooney’s sensational form for Ulster has seen him make the shortlist for European Player of the Year.

The scrum-half’s outstanding displays during Ulster’s pool stages, which have seen the province make the quarter-finals for the second season running, has resulted in the nomination, while Cooney is in good company as back-rower Marcell Coetzee has also made the list of 15 players.

Cooney has scored nine tries and racked up a total of 165 points in the 15 games he has played for Ulster this season, both in Europe and the Guinness PRO14, which has catapulted the 29-year-old into the reckoning to be selected later today by new Ireland coach Andy Farrell for Saturday’s opening Six Nations game with Scotland in Dublin.

While Cooney has been in the form of his life since being overlooked by then Irish coach Joe Schmidt for World Cup selection,

Coetzee missed out on being part of South Africa’s winning squad due to an ankle injury.

However, the 28-year-old (below) barnstorming player has also been consistently producing the goods for Ulster, in Europe and the PRO14, and has made 165 carries in 11 games, as well as winning 10 turnovers.

Leinster have three on the list in Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose and Tadhg Furlong. Racing 92 and Exeter Chiefs also have three nominees, with Finn Russell one of the French club’s trio to have made the list.

Ulster’s quarter-final foes Toulouse have two on the list, Jerome Kaino and Romain Ntamack.

The shortlist will be cut from 15 to five following the Champions Cup semi-finals and the winner will be revealed following the European final on May 23. Full list of European Player of the Year nominees: M Coetzee, J Cooney, L Cowan-Dickie, T Furlong, S Hogg, J Kaino, J Larmour, G Moala, R Ntamack, S Radradra, G Ringrose, F Russell, S Simmonds, T Thomas, V Vakatawa.