European player of the year nominees

This season's winner will follow in the footsteps of world-class talents such as Sean O'Brien, Jonny Wilkinson and Maro Itoje.

Selected by a distinguished panel of rugby experts, the list for one of the most prized individual accolades in the world game includes 15 players who have performed outstandingly during the 2016/17 season to date.

Itoje, who won last year's award following a series of magnificent displays as Saracens stormed to a first Champions Cup title, is nominated again along with teammate Owen Farrell while Wasps' Elliot Daly is also included for a second season in a row.

There are first-time nominations for the Munster Rugby trio of Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray and Christiaan Stander, while Leinster have matched that number with Tadhg Furlong, Isa Nacewa and Garry Ringrose making the list.

Wasps also have three players as Joe Launchbury and Thomas Young join Daly, and there are nominations for the ASM Clermont Auvergne duo, Camille Lopez and Noa Nakaitaci, as well as Jonny Gray and Stuart Hogg of Glasgow Warriors.

Nominees: Tyler Bleyendaal, Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell, Tadhg Furlong, Jonny Gray, Stuart Hogg, Maro Itoje, Joe Launchbury, Camille Lopez, Conor Murray, Isa Nacewa, Noa Nakaitaci, Garry Ringrose, Christiaan Stander and Thomas Young.

Winner announced in the Edinburgh weekend of May 13/14.

Previous winners:

Ronan O'Gara  – best player of first 15 years of European club rugby tournaments);

2011 – Sean O'Brien

2012 – Rob Kearney

2013 – Jonny Wilkinson

2014 – Steffon Armitage

2015 – Nick Abendanon

2016 –  Maro Itoje