ERC European Award Winners

ScrubsfanChris

Didn't see this posted yet:

Many of the greatest names in rugby's professional era have been included among the ERC European Award Winners as part of the celebrations of the landmark 15th season of European club rugby. This year ERC will confer the following European Awards:

ERC15 - European Club Rugby Award Categories

• ERC European Player Award
• ERC European Coaching Award
• ERC European Fair Play Award
• ERC European Dream Team - (Best XV of European club competitions over the past 15 years)

Players from five nations and six different clubs have been selected by a nine-man ERC panel of former players, coaches and members of the media to form an ERC European 'Dream Team'.

Stade Français Paris prop forward Sylvain Marconnet is the only player in the 'Dream Team' not to have won a Heineken Cup winners medal - he reached the 2001 final with his club - while the Toulouse trio of Yannick Jauzion, Vincent Clerc and William Servat are all set to figure in the 15th tournament final against Biarritz Olympique at Stade de France on Saturday, 22 May.

For the ERC European Dream Team, the selectors also chose two players who have won both ERC tournaments, the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup, in London Wasps backs Josh Lewsey and Rob Howley, while Australian Rocky Elsom is also the only southern hemisphere star after his one sensational season in Europe with 2009 Heineken Cup winners Leinster.

The nine-man ERC15 selector panel of Sir Ian McGeechan, Lawrence Dallaglio, Ieuan Evans, Fabien Galthie, Donal Lenihan, Michael Lynagh, Stuart Barnes, Stephen Jones and Jacques Verdier deliberated long and hard to come up with the elite and honour the ERC European Dream Team of the past 15 years.

They were also charged with selecting the best ERC European Player of the last 15 years, the top ERC European Coach over the same period and choosing a winner for the ERC Fair Play Award.

ERC European Dream Team' consists of:

• Players from 5 countries - France 6, Ireland 5, England 2, Wales 1, Australia 1
• Players from 6 clubs - Toulouse 5, Munster 3, Leicester Tigers 2, Leinster 2, London Wasps 2, Stade Français Paris 1
• 3 players who have captained their club to victory in the Heineken Cup - Martin Johnson (Leicester Tigers 2001, 2002), Fabien Pelous (Toulouse 2003, 2005), Anthony Foley (Munster 2006)
• 15 players with a total of 896 Heineken Cup matches and 43 Amlin Challenge Cup games
• 15 players with a total of 1,070 Test caps
• 3 members of the world game's 100 cap club - Fabien Pelous 118, Brian O'Driscoll 107, Ronan O'Gara 100

As Toulouse prepare for their sixth Heineken Cup final appearance in Paris on Saturday, 22 May, and a record 110th tournament game, it seems only fitting that they should supply five members of this ERC EUROPEAN DREAM TEAM.

Prop Christian Califano, who also played for Saracens, Gloucester and Agen, won six French Championship titles at Toulouse and was also in their first Heineken Cup winning team in 1996. He blazed a trail that has seen other Toulouse ERC European Dream Team' members follow suit in 2003 and 2005 - Clerc, Jauzion, Servat and Pelous.

Double champions Munster provide three of the stalwarts of the Heineken Cup in O'Gara (91 matches), Foley (86) and David Wallace (79), while there are two each from double winning English giants Leicester Tigers and London Wasps.

As well as being a World Cup winning captain with England in 2003, and the last British & Irish Lions captain to win a series, Leicester lock legend Johnson remains the only man to captain back-to-back Heineken Cup winning teams in 2001 & 2002. He is joined in the ERC European Dream Team by Tigers team-mate Geordan Murphy, while the Wasps duo of Josh Lewsey and Rob Howley also make the ERC Elite.

Two of Leinster's 2009 Heineken Cup winning team were voted in, Brian O'Driscoll and Rocky Elsom, with the latter providing the southern hemisphere with its only team member.

The ERC15 selector panel also chose the nominees and decided upon the inaugural ERC European Player Award, ERC European Coach Award and ERC European Fair Play Award from all that played and coached in European Club Competitions over the first 15 years.

A public vote online was held at ercrugby.com during this season but this did not impact on the final selections. The ERC15 panel's independence had to be paramount for the credibility of the conferral of these Awards, and thus the public got to contribute but the Selector Panel were the final decision makers.

Munster outside half O'Gara, who has scored a tournament record 1,138 points in 91 appearances at an average of 12.5 points per game, is the only "double" winner, becoming the inaugural recipient of the ERC European Player Award in addition to his ERC European Dream Team selection.

There was a unanimous decision from the panel when it came to selecting the best ERC European Coach Award. Guy Noves has been with Toulouse, and the Heineken Cup, from their first game on 31 October, 1995 right through to the 2010 Heineken Cup final next weekend. In that time he has masterminded 77 victories and four draws in 109 European outings, led his team to six finals and won three of the five to date.

And the Cardiff Blues flanker Martyn Williams, who made his European debut for Pontypridd in 1996, is the winner of the ERC European Fair Play Award. The panel voted for him as it was widely felt that he is the embodiment of the player who upholds the values of the game of rugby in these European club competitions and in so doing is an inspirational role model as to how the game should be played.

ERC EUROPEAN DREAM TEAM

15 Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers)
14 Josh Lewsey (London Wasps)
13 Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster)
12 Yannick Jauzion (Toulouse)
11 Vincent Clerc (Toulouse)
10 Ronan O'Gara (Munster)
9 Rob Howley (London Wasps)
1 Christian Califano (Toulouse)
2 William Servat (Toulouse)
3 Sylvain Marconnet (Stade Français Paris)
4 Martin Johnson (Leicester Tigers)
5 Fabien Pelous (Toulouse)
6 Rocky Elsom (Leinster)
7 David Wallace (Munster)
8 Anthony Foley (Munster)

15 GEORDAN MURPHY
Club: Leicester Tigers
ERC debut: Leicester Tigers v Leinster - Heineken Cup - 19.11.99
Heineken Cup matches: 63
Heineken Cup points: 142 (22T, 10C, 4PG)
ERC honours: Heineken Cup winner 2001 and 2002; Elite 50 Caps
Test Record: Ireland 66 caps / B&I Lions 2

14 JOSH LEWSEY
Club: London Wasps
Other club: Bristol Shoguns
ERC debut: Bristol Shoguns v La Rochelle - Amlin Challenge Cup - 07.09.97
Heineken Cup matches: 49
Heineken Cup points: 80 (16T)
Amlin Challenge Cup matches: 9
Amlin Challenge Cup points: 17 (3T, 1C)
ERC honours: Heineken Cup winner 2004 and 2007; Amlin Challenge Cup winner 2003
Test Record: England 55 caps / B&I Lions 3

13 BRIAN O'DRISCOLL
Club: Leinster
ERC debut: Leinster v Leicester Tigers - Heineken Cup - 19.11.99
Heineken Cup matches: 68
Heineken Cup points: 143 (28T, 1DG)
ERC honours: Heineken Cup winner 2009; Elite 50 Caps and Elite 25 Tries
Test Record: Ireland 101 caps / B&I Lions 6

12 YANNICK JAUZION
Club: Toulouse
Other club: Colomiers
ERC debut: Colomiers v Rugby Roma - Heineken Cup - 07.10.00
Heineken Cup matches: 62
Heineken Cup points: 72 (14T, 1C)
Amlin Challenge Cup matches: 4
Amlin Challenge Cup points: 10 (2T)
ERC honours: Heineken Cup winner 2003, 2005; Elite 50 Caps
Test Record: France 68 caps

11 VINCENT CLERC
Club: Toulouse
ERC debut: Toulouse v London Irish - Heineken Cup - 12.10.02
Heineken Cup matches: 53
Heineken Cup points: 150 (30T)
ERC honours: Heineken Cup winner 2003, 2005; Elite 50 Caps and Elite 25 Tries
Test Record: France 41 caps

10 RONAN O'GARA
Club: Munster
ERC debut: Munster v NEC Harlequins - Heineken Cup - 07.09.97
Heineken Cup matches: 91
Heineken Cup points: 1,138 (8T, 156C, 248PG, 14DG)
ERC honours: Heineken Cup winner 2006 and 2008; Elite 50 Caps and Elite 1,000 Points
Test Record: Ireland 98 caps / B&I Lions 2

9 ROB HOWLEY
Club: London Wasps
Other club: Cardiff Blues
ERC debut: Cardiff Blues v London Wasps - Heineken Cup - 13.10.96
Heineken Cup matches: 38
Heineken Cup points: 60 (12T)
Amlin Challenge Cup matches: 6
ERC honours: Heineken Cup winner 2004; Amlin Challenge Cup winner 2003
Test Record: Wales 59 caps / B&I Lions 2

1 CHRISTIAN CALIFANO
Club: Toulouse
Previous clubs: Saracens, Agen, Gloucester Rugby
ERC debut: Toulouse v Farul Constanta - Heineken Cup - 31.10.95
Heineken Cup matches: 43
Heineken Cup points: 35 (7T)
Amlin Challenge Cup matches: 15
Amlin Challenge Cup points: 30 (6T)
ERC honours: Heineken Cup winner 1996
Test Record: France 71 caps

2 WILLIAM SERVAT
Club: Toulouse
ERC debut: Toulouse v Ulster Rugby - Heineken Cup - 16.10.98
Heineken Cup matches: 59
Heineken Cup points: 10 (2T)
ERC honours: Heineken Cup winner 2003 and 2005; Elite 50 Caps
Test Record: France 30 caps

3 SYLVAIN MARCONNET
Club: Stade Français Paris
ERC debut: Stade Français Paris v London Irish - Amlin Challenge Cup - 07.09.97
Heineken Cup matches: 64
Heineken Cup points: 50 (10T)
Amlin Challenge Cup matches: 9
Amlin Challenge Cup points: 5 (1T)
ERC honours: Elite 50 Caps
Test Record: France 80 caps

4 MARTIN JOHNSON
Club: Leicester Tigers
ERC debut: Leicester Tigers v Leinster - Heineken Cup - 16.10.96
Heineken Cup matches: 51
Heineken Cup points: 10 (2T)
ERC honours: Heineken Cup winner 2001 and 2002; Elite 50 Caps
Test Record: England 84 caps / B&I Lions 8

5 FABIEN PELOUS
Club: Toulouse
Other club: Dax
ERC debut: Dax v Benetton Treviso - Heineken Cup - 16.10.96
Heineken Cup matches: 81
Heineken Cup points: 35 (7T)
ERC honours: Heineken Cup winner 2003 and 2005; Elite 50 Caps
Test Record: France 118 caps

6 ROCKY ELSOM
Club: Leinster
ERC debut: Leinster v Edinburgh - Heineken Cup - 11.10.08
Heineken Cup matches: 9
Heineken Cup points: 10 (2T)
ERC honours: Heineken Cup winner 2009
Test Record: Australia 49 caps

7 DAVID WALLACE
Club: Munster
ERC debut: Munster v Petrarca Rugby - Heineken Cup - 19.09.98
Heineken Cup matches: 79
Heineken Cup points: 70 (14T)
ERC honours: Heineken Cup winner 2006 and 2008; Elite 50 Caps
Test Record: Ireland 62 caps / B&I Lions 3

8 ANTHONY FOLEY
Club: Munster
ERC debut: Munster v Swansea - Heineken Cup - 01.11.95
Heineken Cup matches: 86
Heineken Cup points: 115 (23T)
ERC honours: Heineken Cup winner 2006; Elite 50 Caps
Test Record: Ireland 62 caps

ERC EUROPEAN INDIVIDUAL AWARDS


ERC EUROPEAN PLAYER AWARD
- For the Best Player in Europe over the past 15 years

RONAN O'GARA
Club: Munster
ERC debut: Munster v NEC Harlequins - Heineken Cup - 07.09.97
Heineken Cup matches: 91
Heineken Cup points: 1,138 (8T, 156C, 248PG, 14DG)
ERC honours: Heineken Cup winner 2006 and 2008; Elite 50 Caps and Elite 1,000 Points

ERC EUROPEAN COACH AWARD
- For the Best Coach in Europe over the past 15 years

GUY NOVES
Club: Toulouse
ERC debut: Farul Constanta v Toulouse - Heineken Cup - 31.10.95
Heineken Cup matches: 109
ERC honours: Heineken Cup winning coach 1996, 2003, 2005; Heineken Cup finalist coach 2004, 2008, 2010

ERC EUROPEAN FAIR PLAY AWARD
- For the Fairest and Most Sportsmanlike Player in Europe over the past 15 years

MARTYN WILLIAMS
Club: Cardiff Blues
Other club: Pontypridd
ERC debut: Pontypridd v Benetton Treviso - Heineken Cup - 12.10.96
Heineken Cup matches: 75
Heineken Cup points: 35 (7T)
Amlin Challenge Cup matches: 2
Amlin Challenge Cup points: 5 (1T)
ERC honours: Elite 50 Caps

Source: http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/5019_15642.php


Congrates to ROG on getting overall best player and Rocky for getting into the dream team after only one season :eek:

durkadurka

Speaking as a leinster fan, Rocky was great but it was for only one year. doesn't merit selection IMO. Everyone else in the 'team' has had many seasons of graft and success in Europe.

No arguments with ROG, he has been the lynchpin of Munster's success over 10 years and has delivered in countless matches for the province.

thomond2006

I think Hayes is unlucky not to get in, whatever about his playing abilities, wasn't he involved in 50 consecutive Heineken Cup games before this season?

Marconnet is an excellent player though.

dunleakelleher

RONAN O'GARA
Best Player in Europe over the past 15 years

I suppose that ends the debate on ROG. The rugby gods have spoken.

shawpower

I'm not saying there is much wrong with that team, but if you pick a different set of judges, then you'd probably get different results. I'm surprised to see so many Irish, given Stephen Jones was on the panel. But then I guess there was also Donal Lenihan giving our slant.

durkadurka

dunleakelleher wrote: »

RONAN O'GARA
Best Player in Europe over the past 15 years

I suppose that ends the debate on ROG. The rugby gods have spoken.

Erm, that would be best HEC player, not best player in europe. There's a distinction.

buck65

Good selections all round. Elsom , no disrespect to Leinster, was the difference last year and deserves it for that alone. Delighted for O Gara, truly remarkable stats. Foley did very well also, nice to see a selection like that on the team.

toomevara

AH, Califano, what a bloody player. In fairness though I reckon there are at least two other equally good all time HEC XV's out there....

billybigunz

Seems a fair selection.
Rocky ran the whole show last year and deserves his inclusion.

dunleakelleher

durkadurka wrote: »

Erm, that would be best HEC player, not best player in europe. There's a distinction.

Oh Please. . .:rolleyes:

BoarHunter

billybigunz wrote: »

Seems a fair selection.
Rocky ran the whole show last year and deserves his inclusion.

It's a bit arsh on Dallaglio in fairness

redmca2

It seems the main reason Foley got the nod was his longevity, and a good call in my opinion.
On that basis, I think selecting Elsom was wrong. Plenty of other outstanding 6's over a longer period, Dalaglio, Betson, Richard Hill