European Player of the Year revealed
NEWS: An outstanding European season for Saracens has been capped off with Alex Goode being named EPCR European Player of the Year 2019.
The fullback joined the list of three-time tournament winners as he helped his club to its third European title in four seasons with victory over Leinster in the Champions Cup Final in front of a capacity crowd at Newcastle’s St James’ Park, where he was presented with the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy.
It completed a perfect campaign for the Premiership club, who recorded a clean sweep of wins from their nine matches in the tournament.
The outcome was determined by a combination of a public vote and the verdict of a panel of distinguished rugby experts. Goode saw off opposition from club colleague Mako Vunipola and he becomes the third Saracens player to win the prestigious accolade after Maro Itoje (2016) and Owen Farrell (2017). Leinster trio Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong and Garry Ringrose were the other shortlisted nominees.
Panel member Dimitri Yachvili said: “Alex Goode certainly deserves the EPCR European Player of the Year award. He has played every game this season with Saracens and put in a fantastic final performance. Despite the arrival of Liam Williams, he has kept his position at full-back as well as being flexible in various positions which is testament to the quality of the player. Goode is the true X-factor at Saracens – very comfortable technically and is extremely versatile, he really can make a game-changing difference.”
In case you missed it among all the celebrations, @Alex_goode0 was named European Player of the Year after a stellar season with @Saracens ✨@BBCSport‘s @chjones9 sums it up perfectly 👌
Read more 👉 https://t.co/N2CERYgEVA #EPOTY2019 pic.twitter.com/IkLBkPoYMN
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) May 11, 2019
Roll of Honour:
2019: Alex Goode (Saracens)
2018: Leone Nakarawa (Racing 92)
2017: Owen Farrell (Saracens)
2016: Maro Itoje (Saracens)
2015: Nick Abendanon (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
2014: Steffon Armitage (RC Toulon)
2013: Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon)
2012: Rob Kearney (Leinster Rugby)
2011: Sean O’Brien (Leinster Rugby)
2010: Ronan O’Gara (Munster Rugby) – best player of the first 15 years of European club rugby
2018/19 judging panel: Bryan Habana, Chris Jones, Matthieu Lartot, Emmanuel Massicard, Brian O’Driscoll, Dimitri Yachvili.
