Bok No 8 Wiese scoops prestigious Premiership Rugby players' accolade

Springbok No 8 Jasper Wiese has scooped the English Premiership Players' Player of the Year accolade.

Wiese was honoured with the award at the RPA (Rugby Players' Association) awards dinner on Wednesday night.

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The 27-year-old helped Leicester Tigers to the Premiership semi-finals and the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup.

He fended off stiff competition from Newcastle wing Mateo Carreras, Saracens flanker Ben Earl, Northampton scrumhalf Alex Mitchell, and London Irish loose forward Tom Pearson.

Wiese, capped 20 times by the Springboks, scored six tries and made 130 tackles, 11 offloads, and 218 carries - the fourth-highest in the Premiership.

"It's very humbling to be named the winner of such a prestigious and special award.

"I'd like to thank the players from around the competition for voting for me, and I just want to thank my Leicester teammates for their support too," Wiese said.

The winner of the @eterlast Players’ Player of the Year is…Jasper Wiese - @LeicesterTigers#EterlastRPAAwards pic.twitter.com/QJCCtK4EEu

Elsewhere, Pearson was named young player of the year.

Leicester fullback Freddie Steward won the England men's player of the year award, with Sadia Kabeya taking the women's equivalent.

Gloucester scrumhalf Natasha Hunt was named Premier 15s player of the year.