WELSH ACES IN LINE FOR PRIZE
WALES rugby stars Taulupe Faletau and Louis Reeszammit have been named on a six-man shortlist for the Six Nations player of the tournament.
The Welsh duo are joined by France superstar Antoine Dupont, Ireland’s Robbie Henshaw and Tadhg Beirne and Scotland flanker Hamish Watson.
The candidates have been selected by a 12-strong panel of journalists and broadcasters from the six different nations.
Rees-zammit’s nomination is reward for his remarkable first full Six Nations campaign that saw him grab four tries and light up the tournament.
Faletau, meanwhile, was among the Championship’s top tacklers and carriers as he announced his return to his finest form and seemingly nailed down the Lions No. 8 starting jersey in the process.
The winner will be decided by a public vote.
Dupont’s early form in the Championship was sublime and he finished with three tries and five assists to his name.
Beirne produced a remarkable series of displays. He comfortably topped the turnovers chart with 10 – four more than his nearest rival. Watson also received huge plaudits for his form, once again proving pivotal in the stunning victory over France in Paris that brought the tournament to a close.
Dupont won last year’s player of the championship trophy, while Alun Wyn Jones was the last Welshman to pick it up in 2019.
Other Welsh winners include Martyn Williams, Shane Williams, Dan Lydiate and Leigh Halfpenny.