Rabo Pro 12 Awards 2013/2014

These happened last night at the Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh.

Chairman's Award for Outstanding Service: Leo Cullen and Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster)

Player's Player of the Year: Dan Biggar (Ospreys) (shortlisted: Nikola Matawalu (Glasgow) and Ruan Pienaar (Ulster))

Young Player of the Year: Jonny Gray (Glasgow) (shortlisted: Noel Reid (Leinster))

Coach of the Year: Rob Penney (Munster)

Try of the Year: Tommy Seymour (Glasgow versus Ospreys)

Rhino Golden Boot (for kicking accuracy): JJ Hanrahan (Munster) - 87.30% (55 kicks out of 63) (shortlisted: Gareth Davies (Cardiff Blues) - 86.96%)

Rhino Collision Kings (for breakdown work): Connacht Rugby

SpecSavers Fair Play Award: Ulster Rugby & Connacht Rugby (shared)

Rabo Dream Team 2013/2014:
15 - Liam Williams (Scarlets), 14 – Jeff Hassler (Ospreys), 13 – Casey Laulala (Munster), 12 – Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), 11 – Andrew Trimble (Ulster), 10 – Dan Biggar (Ospreys), 9 - Gareth Davies (Scarlets), 1 – Dave Kilcoyne (Munster), 2 – Sean Cronin (Leinster), 3 – Samson Lee (Scarlets), 4 – Johann Muller (Ulster) CAPTAIN, 5 – Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys), 6 – Rhys Ruddock (Leinster), 7 – Jordi Murphy (Leinster), 8 – Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues)

Leading Try Scorer (2013/2014) - Gareth Davies (Scarlets) - 10 tries

Leading Points Scorer (2013/2014) - Dan Biggar (Ospreys) - 219 points

Well done to everyone involved.

I'm not sure what is more surprising - Dan Biggar winning the award or Niko being nominated?   

Although to be fair I could't say who should get player of the year, and if Biggar was top points scorer that's as good a reason as any.

Delighted to see Johnny Gray in there.

Try of the year is fairly average.

Surprised Townsend didnt get coach of the year.

Surprised Pienaar was shortlisted. Didn't get close to Ulster Player of the Year.

Try of the year also a bizarre choice.

When they said Seymour had own try of the year I assumed it would be for this gem from the other week https://youtu.be/0wMecLzFpBw chip, chase, catch, fend, score!

GLove39 wrote:When they said Seymour had own try of the year I assumed it would be for this gem from the other week https://youtu.be/0wMecLzFpBw chip, chase, catch, fend, score!

+1

Altho you missed 'pin ears back'!!

To avoid any confusion, Tommy's try of the year was this one:

There needs to be a "Razzies" award night, which would have been far more appropriate to hold in Edinburgh, so the recipients of most of the awards wouldn't have far to travel home.

Worst performance: Edinburgh vs Munster (Scotstoun)

Worst player: Piers Francis/Ben Atiga (shared)

Worst newcomer: Andries Strauss

Most tackles missed: Tim Visser

Worst impression of a winger: Jack Cuthbert, Sam Beard and Sam Hidalgo Clyne (shared)

Worst transfer policy: Edinburgh, for shipping out Ross Rennie, Harry Leonard, Alex Allan and Nick De Luca to make way for (respectively) Mike Coman, Bezzy, Berghan and Strauss.

Worst coaches phrase: Solomons and his repeated insistence that 7 wins this season was "progress" compared to 7 wins the previous season.

Worst fans of the season: Glasgow........only joking.