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Thu 24 Mar 2016 | 02:52
Stuart Hogg named Six Nations Player of the Championship for 2016

21
Comments

Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg has been named the 2016 RBS 6 Nations Player of the Championship, securing over 30% of the public vote since the tournament ended at the weekend, as well as being picked by the assigned panel.

Hogg was a standout player for Scotland this year, as he has been since making his debut, and scored another great try against Ireland this past weekend.

After a shortlist of 12 players was picked by Phil Vickery and Gareth Thomas, he was voted for by 20,970 fans as part of a dual process to find the best player of the tournament.
 
England's Billy Vunipola came in a very close second with 27% of the vote for his significant role in securing the team's Grand Slam. Third place was awarded to the top-try scorer, George North with 11% of the votes, followed by Ireland's scrum-half Conor Murray in 4th (4,412 votes).

Hogg, who made his 43rd Test appearance during the Championship commented:

"I'm honoured to receive the RBS Player of the Championship Trophy and join the list of the esteemed players that have won in the past. I'm extremely grateful for all the supporters who voted for me."

Players at every RBS 6 Nations match this year were awarded (or deducted) points based upon a number of different performance categories which cover all aspects of the game. These categories were proportionately weighted based on the different positions by an algorithm created by RBS 6 Nations statisticians Accenture.

RBS 6 Nations Player of the Championship Shortlist

Player Votes % of vote
Stuart Hogg (Scotland) 20,970 30.78%
Billy Vunipola (England)
18,382 26.99%
George North (Wales) 7,904
11.60%
Conor Murray (Ireland) 4,412 6.48%
Jack Nowell (England)
3,931 5.77%
Sergio Parisse (Italy)
3,132
4.60%
Guilhem Guirado (France) 3,018 4.43%
Jonathan Sexton (Ireland) 
2,201 3.23%
Duncan Taylor (Scotland) 1,412 2.07%
Gareth Davies (Wales) 1,210
1.78%
Jonathan Joseph (England) 906
1.33%
Virimi Vakatawa (France) 641 0.94%
Total votes: 68,119  

Below is a quick interview with Hogg after receiving the award

Posted By: Grant Constable

21 Comments

  • drg
    9:31 PM 31/03/2016

    Interesting to see if your prediction comes true. I wouldn't say it's impossible, however France is so much more unpredictable these days that I couldn't put money on it...

  • danknapp
    9:18 PM 30/03/2016

    France - Argentina, jury out?! Argentina will destroy them in every match.

  • reality
    6:22 PM 27/03/2016

    Thanks for the introduction.

    He was a deserving winner. There were other people that played well, but he was a cut above the rest of them in a less than oustanding team.

  • daluaine
    7:33 PM 26/03/2016

    ... and on his return to Glasgow ... sin-binned after 1min 40sec. But then a stunning 2nd half try and a 50+m penalty at the end to deny Ulster their losing bonus point. Highlights here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35903888

  • colombes
    12:35 PM 26/03/2016

    Vunipoli, Vunipola

  • drg
    8:04 PM 25/03/2016

    You really couldn't vote? That's quite strange to have a vote for player of the tournament but have at least one nation within the tournament (perhaps two assuming Italy is also left out?) unable to vote.

    Out of interest, who would have got your vote?

  • drg
    7:58 PM 25/03/2016

    Also, with Itoje, I really hope he becomes a staple in the England pack. He has the ability and already has the skill if he stays on form. It feels like a while since there has been a fixed player in most positions - the likes of Martin Johnson being a first pick in the second row etc, it'd be great to see Itoje on most team sheets, he is an exciting player to watch.

  • drg
    7:56 PM 25/03/2016

    Every player goes out there to try and win, but people need to be realists. For instance if I ever had the opportunity to face the All Blacks, I'd go out there believing I was going to do all I could to win/get one over somehow. But realistically, I'd know that if the score line did not work in my favour then it wouldn't be the most surprising moment of my life.

    Looking at the summer tour:
    England - Australia, - I reckon England might steal one game.
    Wales - New Zealand - Wales might steal 1, lesser chance than Eng v Aus
    Ireland - South Africa - Depending on fitness, I can see Ireland maybe winning overall.. but then their form has been quite up/down so might be a whitewash.
    France - Argentina ....Jury is out...
    Scotland - Japan... If Scotland continue their form they might secure the series. Not sure if the tournament against Japan will be good for their progress or not..
    Italy - Americas... judging by their 6N, Italy will be lucky to get 1 win...

  • colombes
    1:38 PM 25/03/2016

    Pity, french fans can't vote.

    "This content is not available in your country"

  • jimmy23
    9:50 AM 25/03/2016

    It really does feel like he's come from no-where, one can only imagine how good he'll be once he becomes a seasoned veteran.

    It's hard to say really. I honestly don't think I can see us taking the series in Australia. I reckon we can get one game (most likely the first as that's when they'll be at their most rusty) but I think the main thing is to not get a hiding in any them. How's that for ambition aye?

  • drg
    9:31 AM 25/03/2016

    Ah ok. There was no hidden meaning behind my Itoje comment, it was simply one minute he seemed to be no where, next minute he was one of Englands best players. I thought he was a fantastic player and really acted like a back row player with his steals. If England have a solid back row and still have a ball stealing danger like Itoje in the second row, then they've got a massive platform!

    I'd agree that Scotland will struggle against a SH team, but I think at this stage, I'm not even sure England would do well.

  • jimmy23
    9:06 AM 25/03/2016

    Scotland definitely improved and arguably played the most attractive rugby in the tournament, though I still think they wouldn't have a whiff of a chance against the SH teams yet.

    Itoje didn't play against Scotland, but as I said, his impact in every game he took part in was there for all to see. He got a MOTM performance on his 2nd start and I don't know many players who have achieved that.

  • drg
    8:44 AM 25/03/2016

    I'm not sure if you meant it to sound this way, but you make it sound like Hogg is an 'alright' player on a whole, but he just shines because of a bad team?

    Couple of points:
    1. Hogg outplayed some fantastic opposition and set up some great tries and scored an amazing try of his own. You could argue his team is bad (subject of my next point), but the opposition isn't...
    2. "in a poor enough team"? Really? Is that how Scotland is being viewed? I have read a lot of articles on the 6N and most are saying it's important for Scotland not to count it's eggs yet, as there is still a lot of work, but they had some fantastic results. Even the matches they lost in were very close - England 6 points, Wales 4 points and Ireland 10 points - last one not very close I suppose, but definitely an improvement.

    It seems to me this 6N has been judged on teams performances against the likes of Scotland. I've heard that the 6N was a poor tournament, woeful rugby... I'm not sure if this is because teams like Scotland are ALWAYS beaten and "how in the world did my team come so close to losing to Scotland?!?!?" is on the forefront of peoples minds?

    Regarding Itoje, did he play in all the matches?

  • 10stonenumber10
    3:04 AM 25/03/2016

    Always been a fan of Hogg... never a bad word to say about him....







    Back to reality.... i don't mind him winning. A bit like Farrell, he has grown on me, seems a more mature team player rather than petulant upstart.

    This is through my Lions tinted goggles though. Unless he acts a right nob, he is free from ill informed slatings until the end of 2017.

  • mise
    12:36 AM 25/03/2016

    well said @Jimmy23 - Itoje deserved to be top 5 at least, for sure.

    Content (if not the order of) Top 4 make sense, more or less, but with Itoje in there too. Think Vini or Itoje might have been 1 actually ,thou Hogg - in a poor enough team - was amazing.

    I'd probably go

    1 Vini
    2 Hogg
    3 Itoje
    4 North
    5 Murray

    (unsure about 2 and 3 a toss up really)

  • jimmy23
    10:07 PM 24/03/2016

    Call me biased but I'm stunned Itoje didn't make the list, the man had a noticeable impact in every game he played.

  • facepalm
    9:23 PM 24/03/2016

    Probably well deserved for Hogg, although that shortlist is baffling to say the least

  • drg
    8:12 PM 24/03/2016

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  • danknapp
    6:02 PM 24/03/2016

    Great skills on display this tournament, well deserved.

  • jimbo85
    5:24 PM 24/03/2016

    Sorry...the same Stuart Hogg that tried to cheat against South Africa in the world cup and who nearly killed Dan Biggar in the 2014 six nations? Give me strength.

  • welshosprey
    4:29 PM 24/03/2016

    lol what a joke, what exactly did he do that North didn't do better? More tries, more metres made, more defenders beaten.
    Kruis should have won it but he wasn't even nominated!

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