The Professional Rugby Players’ Association has announced the nominations for the 2006 PRA Computacenter Rugby Players’ Awards. The awards dinner will be taking place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 and is now sold out with more than 1,000 guests attending.

The awards, now in their eighth year, are the highlight of the domestic rugby calendar celebrating the achievements of the 2005-2006 Season. With over 100 players in attendance, this is the best supported player event that also raises significant money for the PRA Benevolent Fund.
 
The CEO of the PRA Damian Hopley is looking forward to another successful event. “This promises to be another outstanding evening attended by a range of players from the Guinness Premiership and the international game. Not only are those players that have excelled throughout the season honoured, but the evening raises much needed funds for those players who have had to retire from the game due to serious injury or illness.”
 
The nominations are as follows:
 
Computacenter Players’ Player of the Year

• Mike Catt – London Irish
• Justin Marshall – Leeds Tykes
• Shaun Perry – Bristol Rugby
• Carlos Spencer – Northampton Saints
• Jason White – Sale Sharks

Mercedes Benz Young Player of the Year – The Nick Duncombe Memorial Award

• Jon Clarke – Northampton Saints
• Magnus Lund – Sale Sharks
• Tom Rees – London Wasps
• Mathew Tait – Newcastle Falcons
• Tom Varndell – Leicester Tigers

At a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel meeting at the Leeds Brighouse Holiday Inn last night Spencer was given a one-week suspension for collecting three yellow cards for foul play. The club had already put the suspension in place and Spencer served the ban last week. 

The panel comprised chairman Mike Hamlin, Antony Davies and Peter Rhodes.