Wednesday 3 May 2017 12:48, UK
Wasps trio Elliot Daly, Jimmy Gopperth and Christian Wade, Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell, and Northampton Saints forward Louis Picamoles are the nominees for the prestigious Rugby Players' Association (RPA) Players' Player of the Year.
The award is voted for by all Aviva Premiership players, with the winner announced at the RPA player awards dinner in London next Wednesday.
Wasps are currently top of the Aviva Premiership table and three of their top performers have been nominated.
England centre Daly has enjoyed a fine campaign, scoring four tries in the Premiership, as well as a memorable Six Nations match-winner in Wales. He has been named in the Lions squad to tour New Zealand this summer.
Wasps have also been superbly served by fly-half Jimmy Gopperth, who tops the Aviva Premiership scoring charts at the moment with 256, having played.
And the top try scorer in the Premiership is speedy Wasps wing Christian Wade, who was named the RPA Players' Player and Young Player in 2013, and has enjoyed another excellent season, with 16 tries from 20 matches.
Reigning champions Saracens are third in the table at the moment, just two points behind Wasps and Exeter, and their playmaker Owen Farrell has been nominated for the second season in a row after another fine campaign for club and country.
Farrell is another nominee to have earned selection for the Lions squad.
France international Louis Picamoles has quickly settled into life in the Premiership with Northampton Saints and the powerful back-row forward has registered a competition high 40 offloads.
Picamoles said: "It's a very special honour to be nominated for this award, especially as it's my first season in the Premiership.
"I have really enjoyed my year so far playing for Northampton and I look forward to many more great games ahead."
