Trinh-Duc is France's best
France flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc was named as the Top 14 Player of the Year by his fellow French professionals.
The 25-year-old was instrumental in unfancied Montpellier’s extraordinary progress to the Top 14 Final – their first ever French Championship Final – last season where they lost to Toulouse.
Trinh-Duc – whose grandfather is Vietnamese – succeeds Morgan Parra as Player of the Year, while two foreigners had won the previous two years; former All Black great Byron Kelleher in 2008 and Fijian wing Napolioni Nalaga in 2009.
Trinh-Duc – who sparkled when he came on early for the injured Parra in the 8-7 World Cup Final loss to the All Blacks – was not the only Montpellier award winner of the night.
The Montpellier trio of former France captain Fabien Galthie, Eric Bechu and Didier Bes won the Coaching Team of the Year Award.
Young Toulouse scrumhalf/flyhalf Jean-Marc Doussain, who won his first cap when he came on during the World Cup Final, was named as the Discovery of the Year which saw him play an integral role in his club’s Top 14 title win and reach the European Cup semifinals.
European Cup Final referee Romain Poite was named Referee of the Year.
AFP
