Northampton Saints - News : Carlos and JC nominated for GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP awards

9 May 2006, 3:44 pm

Carlos and JC nominated for GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP awards

Another nomination for Spencer - man of the match last Saturday

Northampton Saints duo Carlos Spencer and Jon Clarke have been nominated for the GUINNESS PREMIERHSIP Player of the Season and Discovery of the Year following today's meeting of the selection committee. Both players are up for similar awards at tomorrow night's PRA event and Spencer has already won Saints Player of the Year and Saints Supporters' Club Player of the Year.

The Premier Rugby Awards Panel met today to agree on the nominees for the GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP awards.

The panel was chaired by Phil Winstanley, rugby manager at Premier Rugby, and comprised Miles Harrison (SKY Sports), Barry Newcombe (president, Rugby Union Writers' Club), Jason Leonard and Lee Bailey (sponsorship manager, GUINNESS). England coach Andy Robinson also sent in his nominations for consideration at the meeting.

The nominations are as follows:

GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP Player of the Season:

Mike Catt, London Irish
Shaun Perry, Bristol Rugby
Carlos Spencer, Northampton Saints
Tom Voyce, London Wasps
Jason White, Sale Sharks

Land Rover Discovery of the season:

Tom Biggs, Leeds Tykes, 21 years old
Jon Clarke, Northampton Saints, 22
Magnus Lund, Sale Sharks, 22
Mathew Tait, Newcastle Falcons, 20
Tom Varndell, Leicester Tigers, 20

O2 Director of Rugby of the Season:

Richard Hill, Bristol Rugby
Philippe Saint Andre, Sale Sharks
Brian Smith, London Irish

Commenting on the nominations, Premier Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty said: "The GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP is about excitement, intensity, commitment and above all, excellence. It is about team spirit and that is demonstrated in the GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP week in, week out. What these awards acknowledge is the role certain individuals play in their team, whether as a leader, as a points scorer or by turning in the consistently high levels of performance that winning teams are built on.

"The nominations highlight established, exceptional individuals as well as some of our young players who will be the future of both club and international rugby. Their performances inspire young people not only to come and watch the game, but also to play the game in increasing numbers."

The winners will be announced at the GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP Awards on Wednesday, May 24, at the Nursery Pavilion, Lord's Cricket Ground.

Also presented on the night will be the MBNA Try of the Season, The Times Team Performance of the Season, the Powergen Community Player of the Season and the Sky Dream Team.