Scots overlooked for top European award

Fifteen nominees have been announced for the European player of the year award for 2018 – but no Scots feature among the list of contenders.

The names in the running for the accolade are dominated by teams from Ireland and France, while Saracens playmaker Owen Farrell – the current holder of the award – is the only English presence on the list and the solitary representative from the Aviva Premiership.

Saracens are the only English club to have reached the quarter-finals of the European Champions Cup and progressed in the closing exchanges of the final round on the strength of finishing as one of three best runnersup. The list will be reduced to five players after the cup semi-finals in April before the winner is announced after the final on 12 May. l England have suffered yet another injury blow with Kyle Sinckler forced to leave the squad’s training camp in Portugal with a possible hamstring strain. The prop has been replaced by Henry Thomas of Bath.

The setback leaves Exeter’s Harry Williams as the next in line to deputise for Dan Cole, the first choice tighthead who will start the Six Nations opener against Italy on Sunday week. England have lost a succession of props for at least a chunk of the Six Nations and have been most badly hit at loosehead, where they are missing Joe Marler, Matt Mullan, Ellis Genge and Beno Obano. l Saracens back row Schalk Burger has been cited for dangerous play at a ruck during Saturday’s Champions Cup victory over Northampton.

Burger is alleged to have dangerously entered a ruck, making contact with flanker David Ribbans, in the 48th minute of the 62-14 triumph at Allianz Park. The entry point sanction for the offence is a two-week ban, mid-range is four weeks and the top end starts at eight weeks.