Carter heads list for top European award

Paris - New Zealand's rugby union World Cup winning captain Dan Carter, at French club Racing 92, was nominated for the 2016 European player of the year award on Wednesday.

Fifteen players are on the shortlist for the award which is given out by the organisers of the European Rugby Challenge Cup, the ECPR.

France captain France Guilhem Guirado of Toulon would be a key rival for the award to be announced May 13.

European Player of the Year shortlist:

Steffon Armitage (Toulon)
Dan Carter (Racing 92)
Jack Clifford (Harlequins)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Vereniki Goneva (Leicester Tigers)
Guilhem Guirado (Toulon)
Juan Imhoff (Racing 92)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Kruis (Saracens)
George North (Northampton Saints)
Charles Piutau (Wasps)
George Smith (Wasps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Thomas Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs)