Leigh Halfpenny has been named 2013 Player of the Year by the Rugby Union Writers’ Club.
The Wales and Lions international full-back was announced as the winner of the Pat Marshall Trophy at the Rugby Writers’ annual awards dinner in London last night.
His coach with Wales and the British and Irish Lions, Warren Gatland, won a special award for lifetime achievement.
Halfpenny and Gatland were among the Lions squad named as the SJA’s Team of the Year last month.
Halfpenny scored 49 points, including 21 in the 41-16 third Test win in Sydney, in the summer’s three Lions Test matches against Australia, breaking Neil Jenkins’ record for most points in a series.
The Rugby Union Writers’ Club awards dinner also saw tankards for the unsung heroes of the game were presented to Rob Smith the former Wasps player, coach and academy manager, Sam Drury who has played 700 games for Ossett Rugby Club and Roy Lewis, a stalwart of Ebbw Vale.
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UPCOMING SJA EVENTS
Mon Mar 24: SJA British Sports Journalism Awards, Grand Connaught Rooms, London
Mon Apr 14: SJA Spring Golf Day: Croham Hurst GC, Surrey. Booking details to be announced