Wasps Shaw in hunt for PRA award

Simon Shaw, the Wasps and England lock, is the only English-born player among the five nominations for the Professional Rugby Players' Association player of the year award.

Shaw, who was called up to the World Cup squad as a late replacement for the injured Danny Grewcock, is also the only member of Clive Woodward's victorious party to be named.

The other four nominees were all born in New Zealand, although Henry Paul, Gloucester's former rugby league star, has played for England and figured in the Six Nations Championship.

The other three Kiwis are the Northampton Saints pair of winger or full-back Bruce Reihana and scrum-half Mark Robinson, and Shaw's Wasps team-mate and full-back or fly-half Mark van Gisbergen. Meanwhile, fly-half Olly Barkley heads the list for PRA young player of the year.

PRA player of the year nominations: Simon Shaw (Wasps), Henry Paul (Gloucester), Bruce Reihana (Northampton), Mark Robinson (Northampton), Mark van Gisbergen (Wasps).

PRA young player of the year nominations: Olly Barkley (Bath), James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), Chris Jones (Sale), Jon Goodridge (Gloucester), Ugo Monye (Harlequins).