French rugby Oscars handed out
The great French journal Midi Olympique held its 58th awards evening on Monday at Pavillon Gabriel in Paris, and the top French award, the Golden Oscar, went to Vincent Clerc of Toulouse.
It was a good year for Clerc – winning the Top 14 with Toulouse and playing in the final of the World Cup when he equalled Christophe Dominic as the Frenchman with most World Cup appearances (11).
The previous year’s winner was Morgan Parra who had played a big part in winning the 2009/10 Top 14 Final with Clermont.
The Silver Oscar went to Julien Bonnaire of Clermont for consistent performances for France, and the Bronze Oscar went to Montpellier’s Fulgence Ouedraogo, marking his club’s remarkable performance last season.
The Top 14 management staff award also went to Montpellier’s trio of Fabien Galthié, Eric Béchu (forwards coach) and Didier Bès (backs coach), while Graham Henry was award the coaching Oscar for the New Zealand success at the World Cup.
Thierry Dusautoir received the World Oscar for his performance at the World Cup, which had been won the previous year by Dan Carter. Dusautoir was voted the player for the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the IRB’s Player of the Year.
The award for the best foreign player in the Top 14 went to the Georgian giant Mamuka Gorgodze who succeeds Gerhard Vosloo and Chris Masoe.
Midi Olympique Oscars:
Golden Oscar: Vincent Clerc (Toulouse)
Silver Oscar: Julien Bonnaire (Clermont)
Bronze Oscar: Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier)
Oscar for the best staff: Galthié-Béchu-Bès (Montpellier)
Oscar for the best foreigner: Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier)
World Oscar: Thierry Dusautoir (France)
Oscar for the best coach in the world: Graham Henry (New Zealand)
