England centre Mike Catt tonight capped a memorable season when he was named
players' player of the year.
And in an awards double for Bath, Catt's club colleague Steve Borthwick took the young player honours.
The Professional Rugby Players Association's awards dinner, held at Lord's cricket ground in London , also recognised achievements of record-breaking England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, Leicester's unsung hero Australian centre Pat Howard and Wasps wing Kenny Logan.
But it was 29-year-old Catt who took centre-stage, receiving the award from
sports minister Kate Hoey after being voted cream of the crop by his fellow
professionals.
He proved a key figure during England's points romp through the Six Nations
Championship, producing consistently high-class performances alongside midfield partner Will Greenwood.
He also won his 50th cap in the Twickenham demolition of Italy, gained Lions selection for this summer's Australia tour and steered Bath to the inaugural Zurich Championship play-off final.
``I am absolutely delighted to have won this tremendous award,'' he said.``It is another amazing moment in what has been a magnificent season for me, and an honour to have won it through votes cast by my fellow professionals.''
PRA chief executive Damian Hopley saluted Catt's ``exceptional year'' for club and country, adding: ``It is tremendous to see Mike receive the highest accolade in the game.''
A Premiership dream team, again voted for by the players, included Catt and 11 of his Lions colleagues, plus Howard, Leicester wing Geordan Murphy and Bath scrum-half Gareth Cooper.
Second-row forward Borthwick, 21, rose to prominence during England's South
Africa tour last summer, and made his Test debut in the record Six Nations
victory against France last month.
``This year's awards have been a great success, and we are delighted to have
the opportunity to celebrate the end of a long season with the players,''Hopley
said.
``The competition for all awards was extremely tight, and the winners are to
be congratulated on their efforts in another outstanding year for English
rugby.
The new Blyth Spirit Award went to former Sale and England A centre Andy
Blyth, who showed great courage in the face of adversity after recovering from
an horrific spinal injury that ended his playing career.
Lions great Willie John McBride and legendary French centre Philippe Sella
were inducted as the PRA hall of fame's latest members, joining Cliff Morgan,
Michael Lynagh and Peter Winterbottom.
Award winners: Computacenter player's player of the year - Mike Catt.
Clarke Wilmott Clarke young player of the year - Steve Borthwick.
Daily Telegraph readers' player of the year - Jonny Wilkinson.
Richard Langhorn Award - Pat Howard.
Golden Boot Award (Premiership top points scorer) - Kenny Logan.
Rugby World Blyth Spirit Award - Andy Blyth.
Premiership Dream Team: I Balshaw (Bath); G Murphy (Leicester), W Greenwood (Harlequins), P Howard (Leicester), J Robinson (Sale); M Catt (Bath), G Cooper (Bath); J Leonard (Harlequins), K Wood (Harlequins), P Vickery (Gloucester), M Johnson (Leicester), D Grewcock (Saracens), R Hill (Saracens), N Back (Leicester), L Dallaglio (Wasps).