England’s Billy Vunipola is named RPA 2016 Player of the Year

Bill Vunipola wins RPA player of the year award

Grand Slam winner Billy Vunipola was awarded the Rugby Players’ Association Award for 2016 Player of the Year on Wednesday at Battersea Evolution. There were 12 awards total given to various rugby players named from teams around the world to celebrate achievements of England Rugby. Saracens No 8 Vunipola dazzled in the 2016 RBS 6 Nations, and won three Man of the Match awards from five games for his impressive ball carrying and powerful charges. Vunipola was a key to England’s Grand Slam victory in Rugby Six Nations, and has proven himself to be a world class back row forward on the international stage against the most powerful rugby union teams in the world.

England became only the 13th England side to win a Grand Slam. The spin-offs for the squad included a £25,000-per-man bonus. Coming from an established Tongan rugby dynasty, Viliami “Billy” Vunipola is a world-class rugby player as is his brother Mako and was his father and uncles.

Billy Vunipola International Record

20 points – 4T

2013 Arg (1R, 2R), A, Arg, NZ 2014 F, S, I, NZ (2R,3), NZ, SA 2015 W, It, I, S, F, F, I(R) World Cup - Fj(R), W 2016 S, It, I, W, F

A knee ligament strain brought an end to Billy Vunipola’s role in the 2015 Rugby World Cup England after he had featured in only two games. However five months later Vunipola was named man of the match with 19 ball-carries in England’s opening RBS 6 Nations win over Scotland. Vunipola shone in England’s match against Ireland with a stunning performance, and was again named man of the match for the second time. And Vunipola was named for the third time in England’s victory against France that brought the Coveted Grand Slam to England.

Sydney-born Billy is part of a distinguished Tongan rugby dynasty. Billy’s brother Mako has 32 England caps and toured Australia with the 2013 British & Irish Lions. Both Vunipola brothers signed “multi-year” contracts with Saracens last April. Billy, like his brother Mako, qualified for the England National Rugby Team through residency. Billy said he benefited from England U18 coaches John Fletcher and Peter Walton. “Both have shown great belief and brought me through even though I thought I was just average.”

Billy was the top ball carrier in both of England’s first two 2016 RBS Six Nations Championship matches. He made 17 carries against France at Stade de France and 16 against Scotland at Murrayfield and reached 10 caps in 12 months when playing twice against New Zealand last summer. Billy’s 64 carries were the most in the 2015 RBS 6 Nations Championship.

The England Player of the Year award was presented to the most outstanding rugby player from the 2015 - 2016 season, as voted for by the England Elite Playing Squad. Other members of England's Grand-Slam winning squad that were named as candidates for the Old Mutual Wealth England Player of the Year are George Kruis, Anthony Watson, James Haskell and Chris Robshaw. All five were key in helping the England Rugby Team win their first Grand Slam since 2003.

“It’s always nice to be nominated by your teammates for an award but I think for me it’s not about individual awards it’s about how the team performs, and I’m just happy to be in a great team, playing with a great bunch of guys and under really good coaches," said Vunipola. Harlequins flanker Chris Robshaw was honored to be named. "I cherish every opportunity I get to wear an England shirt and it’s an honor that the guys who you compete with week in, week out appreciate the contribution you make to the team,” said Robshaw.

England’s George Kruis also talked about being nominated by his teammates. “You play the game to gain the respect of your teammates, particularly at the highest level of the sport and I’m very thankful and excited to be recognized alongside four fantastic players,” said Kruis.

Bath wing Anthony Watson scored three tries in the 2016 Six Nations Tournament. "It’s very inspiring but I have to keep the hard work going now and push on towards Australia in June,” said Watson. “I am honored to be nominated."

Wasps back-row forward James Haskell said he was flattered to be named. “To be nominated alongside such a strong group of players is very flattering and I just hope collectively as a squad we can build on our RBS 6 Nations momentum and play our best brand of rugby down in Australia,” said Haskell.

The 2016 Old Mutual Wealth England Player of the Year

Winner: Billy Vunipola
Nominee: George Kruis
Nominee: Anthony Watson
Nominee: James Haskell
Nominee: Chris Robshaw

The 2016 RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam champions play Warren Gatland’s Wales at Twickenham on May 29th in the Old Mutual Wealth Cup in the first match for the England Rugby side since RBS 6 Nations. Next England travel to Australia for a 3 game tour against Michael Cheika’s Australia side. Leicester Tigers star and England scrum half Ben Youngs who has 57 caps for England says he is looking forward to going face-to-face with Wales at Twickenham Stadium. Young also played a key role in England winning the Grand Slam.

"I think they are always special games," said Youngs. "You only have to look at the history between the two sides and look back at the classic matches such as 1999 when Scott Gibbs scored in the last minute at Wembley, the game at the 2003 World Cup when we played them in the quarter-finals.

"I remember watching that game as a kid and then in 2013 suffering real heartache against them. The World Cup low last year and then getting a result against them this year as well as last season. It is a special fixture," added Young. "I love being a part of those games and when I’m retired if there’s one England fixture that people ask me to go to, England versus Wales is the one I’d go and watch."

RPA Players' Player of the Year - George Smith

Thirty-five year old rugby star and Australia legend George Smith joined the Rugby Union Premiership top club Wasps at the start of the 2015 – 2016 season as a flanker and enjoys an effective partnership in the back row with James Haskell and Nathan Hughes. Smith has 111 Australia caps. “I’m an old man coming over here but I’ve really enjoyed the journey, it’s been fantastic,” said Smith. “There is such a great bunch at Wasps and its great being involved with them. I really enjoy the contest, it’s been a great year for me. I didn’t think playing in the Premiership would be so much fun.”

To watch Billy Vunipola, George Smith, George Kruis, Anthony Watson, James Haskell and Chris Robshaw in live action you can purchase great rugby union tickets via LiveRugbyTickets.co.uk.

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