Three Leinster players have been nominated for the ERC European Player of the Year Award 2011.
No 8 Jamie Heaslip, flanker Sean O'Brien and full-back Isa Nacewa are on the shortlist of five, which also includes Northampton prop Soane Tonga'uiha and Stade Francais captain Sergio Parisse.
The winner will be announced on 24 May and a presentation made by tournament organisers ERC at his respective club.
In 2010 ERC, the Governing Body of Europe's two club rugby tournaments, launched the highly acclaimed ERC15 Awards, recognising the efforts of a number of outstanding contributors to the first decade and a half of European competition.
The inaugural recipient of the ERC European Player Award, as the best player over the first 15 years of these tournaments, was Munster's Ronan O'Gara.
For the 2010/11 season ERC will present a singular award to the best player of the season from both of its tournaments - Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup, selected by a panel of five experts and ratified by the captains and coaches of the 44 clubs from the two competitions.
