The award reflects his rise to world class since winning his first cap against the USA in 2009. Since that time he has made a further 13 appearances for his country.
The former Whitchurch High School pupil topped the ballot well in front of nearest rivals Paul James and Matthew Rees. Last year’s winner, James Hook, was also nominated along with Dan Lydiate and Adam Jones.
Winner of the award for Most Promising [uncapped] Player is no 8 Toby Faletau, whose barnstorming performances for Newport Gwent Dragons took him into Warren Gatland’s national squad during the Six Nations tournament. His father played for Tonga and Ebbw Vale and the younger Faletau is widely expected to win his first international cap for Wales in the near future.
His strongest competitors in this category were Ben Morgan, Justin Tipuric and Adam Hughes, all of whom have made outstanding progress during the season just ending.
Player of the Principality Premiership in Wales is Matthew Morgan [Swansea], who had huge support for his candidacy following a season when he was marked down by many as a future Welsh international outside-half and who led the field comfortably in the ballot.
Names from most of the Premiership clubs were put forward for this last award, among them Kristian Dacey, Chris Dicomidis, Dafydd Lockyer, Wayne O’Connor, Ed Siggery and Owen Williams [Pontypridd], Richard Carter and Rhys Webb [Aberavon], Gareth Davies, Aaron and Steven Shingler and Justin James [Llanelli], Gareth Gravell and Tom James [Neath], Steffan Jones [Cross Keys], Adam Warren [Llandovery] and Rhodri Wells [Swansea]. But the talented 19-year old Morgan was a clear winner with more than 60 percent of the votes cast.
The three awards will be presented at the annual dinner of Welsh Rugby Writers’ Association at Cardiff rugby club on 30th June.
