The Rugby Players' Association has voted Saracens hooker Schalk Brits player of the year in his debut season in the Guinness Premiership.
South African receives accolade in first Premiership season
The Rugby Players' Association has voted Saracens hooker Schalk Brits player of the year in his debut season in the Guinness Premiership.
The South African beat Northampton prop Soane Tonga'uiha into second place with Saints and England full-back Ben Foden third.
Brits collected his award at the RPA's 12th annual ceremony in London on Wednesday and will be looking to cap his season by helping Sarries to the Guinness Premiership title on Saturday.
"This is a fantastic and very unexpected honour, and I'm proud and humbled to receive this award," he said.
"To be rated by your peers is the greatest compliment that one could receive, and that is what makes receiving this award so unbelievable.
"The last 12 months since I arrived in the UK have been absolutely phenomenal on and off the pitch and now having this to add to everything else is very special indeed.
"I've loved playing for Saracens, playing in the Premiership and the progress that we have made together as a club this year has been incredibly rewarding.
"There's something special happening at Saracens and I am happy to be part of it.
"Now we have one more game to play, and we are looking forward to giving it our all in the final on Saturday. Winning the final would obviously end the season on the ultimate high."
Youngs treble
Leicester scrum-half Ben Youngs was named young player of the year to complete a trophy treble, having already been voted Premiership discovery of the season and Leicester's player of the year.
He claimed the Nick Duncombe Memorial Award ahead of another Northampton pair in Chris Ashton and Courtney Lawes.
England lock Simon Shaw won the special merit award for his contribution to the game and Bill McLaren was posthumously inducted into the RPA Hall of Fame.
Andy Ripley, the former England international, received the Blyth Spirit Award for his outstanding courage in the face of adversity.
Ripley was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2005, since when he has worked closely with the Prostate Cancer Charity to raise awareness of the disease and encourage men to get tested as a preventative measure.
After three years in remission, his cancer returned in 2008.
