Armitage claims top Euro prize
Steffon Armitage of European Cup champions Toulon has been named the competition's Player of the Year.
Armitage has had a magnificent season for the French club who retained their European title in superb style at the Millennium Stadium.
The dynamic 28-year-old back row was a key figure in Toulon's second European Cup triumph in a row and not surprisingly was the number one ranked player in the tournament statistics for turnovers won with a total of 19 – while also featuring in the top 10 in the carries, tackles and defenders beaten categories.
He was presented with a specially struck gold medal in recognition of the prestigious accolade by ERC Chief Executive, Derek McGrath.
"This is a great honour, and with us winning another European Cup as well, everything has come together at the right time," Armitage said.
"There are a lot of big names at Toulon, but we're like one big family and without my teammates, this individual award wouldn't have been possible. Also, to follow in the footsteps of Jonny Wilkinson as a winner is really special."
Armitage is now included in a list of illustrious players who have won the highest individual accolade in Northern Hemisphere rugby.
Jonny Wilkinson, who captained Toulon to success at the Millennium Stadium, was last year's winner and previously, the award went to Rob Kearney (Leinster 2012), Sean O'Brien (Leinster 2011) and to Ronan O'Gara (Munster) who was the inaugural recipient in 2010 as the best player over the first 15 years of ERC's two tournaments.
