2012 RBS Player of Championship

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The final shortlist for the official 2012 RBS Player of the Championship has been announced, with a fans’ poll deciding the result now open on www.rbs6nations.com. 

With Wales favourite to lift the trophy on Saturday, four Wales names dominate the shortlist of 12 players with Sam Warburton, Dan Lydiate, Alex Cuthbert and Mike Philips all receiving a nod.

Despite not being in the running for the title this year, France has three votes with Julien Malzieu, Yoann Maestri and Imanol Harinordoquy all making the shortlist. 

The two teams battling to avoid the wooden spoon have also made the list, Scotland has two nominations with David Denton and Ross Rennie and Italy captain Sergio Parisse also makes the final list. 

The most noticeable absence this year is England, who do not have any players on the shortlist. 

Ireland’s Jonathan Sexton and Donnacha Ryan will be looking to take the award back to Dublin, after it was won by their team mate Tommy Bowe in 2010 and former Ireland player Brian O’Driscoll in 2009. 

All players recognised by the relevant television host broadcaster as RBS Man of the Match during the first four weekends of the Championship were automatically placed in contention for the prestigious award. The winner will be chosen by rugby fans from across the six nations who are being asked to vote for their RBS Player of the Championship, based on performance, form and achievement. 

Fans can vote for the 2012 RBS Player of the Championship at www.rbs6nations.com and voting will remain open until midnight on Sunday 18th March. 

 Once the votes have been counted and verified, the announcement of the official RBS Player of the Championship will be published on www.rbs6nations.com on Wednesday 21st March.

Harinordoquy Gets Unexpected Help

The father of Imanol Harinordoquy brought the Top 14 Basque derby between Biarritz and Bayonne to a halt by running onto the pitch to defend his son.

According to AFP, France international Harinordoquy's father came down from the stands in the sixth minute of the Tuesday night clash and faced up to Bayonne flanker Jean-Jo Marmouyet after his son got involved in a punch-up far from the action.

Harinordoquy senior's admirable sense of family loyalty was brought to an abrupt halt by Bayonne fly-half Benjamin Boyet, who tackled him to the ground before Biarritz hooker Benoit August stepped in to restore order.

Christian Gajan, Bayonne's director of rugby, was outraged by Harinordoquy's father's behaviour.

"I find his behaviour deplorable that he came onto the pitch to defend his son by boxing with (Jean-Jo) Marmouyet at the beginning of the match," he said.

"You could have been mistaken for believing it was a youth match between two local villages, it was a scandalous episode."

Harinordoquy junior - who is known as one of the tougher customers in the sport and a veteran of three World Cups - preferred not to comment.

Biarritz won the 100th Basque derby with the last kick of the game on Tuesday as Julien Peyrelongue landed a penalty to make the score 21-19 and give the hosts only their second win in 11 matches.

Three players were sin-binned during the match.

Video - Father jumps in on rugby brawl