CJ SECOND BEST TO HOGG IN VOTE

CJ STANDER finished runner-up to Scotland’s Stuart Hogg in the public RBS 6 Nations Player of the Championship vote.

From a shortlist of 12, there were two Irishmen in the top six in the voting that was conducted earlier this week.

After 120,889 votes were lodged, full-back Hogg (top right) received 29,374 - or 24.3 per cent of the total to win the award for the second year running.

Back row Stander (bottom right), in second place, got 18,078 votes (14.95 per cent) after leading the way with tackles and carries, and after scoring a hat-trick of tries in Ireland’s second game against Italy. Louis Picamoles of France was in third place while Ireland’s Conor Murray finished sixth.

Hogg commented on his back to back accolades: “To receive this award again is an absolute honour, particularly when you take other players on the shortlist into account.“

Three Irishmen have previously won the award, the most recent being Paul O’connell two years ago.

Tommy Bowe won it in 2010, the year after Brian O’driscoll won it for a third time. The legendary centre also won in 2006, the year of the award’s inception, and in 2007.