Cardiff Blues prop has been rewarded for another outstanding season by being voted Wales Player of the Year. He was clear winner in a ballot carried out by members of the Welsh Rugby Writers Association.
Two Blues and Wales team mates – Leigh Halfpenny and Tom Shanklin, came second and third respectively in the poll.
The award has ended the Ospreys domination of the gong with Shane Williams, James Hook and Duncan Jones having been the three previous winners.
The Most Promising Player of the Year award went to Dragons full-back Jason Tovey, who topped the poll ahead of Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies and Ospreys full-back Gareth Owen.
And Cardiff flanker Rhys Shellard has been named as Premiership player of the year, with Llanelli’s Aaron Shingler second and Cardiff’s Damian Welch third.