Mark Bennett picks up top prize at Edinburgh end-of-season awards

The Scotland international centre scooped the top prize as Edinburgh Rugby celebrated an historic year in their history, in which the team lifted the first-ever Scottish x Italian Shield, claimed back the 1872 Cup and secured Heineken Champions Cup rugby for next season – all in the club’s first campaign at the newly-built DAM Health Stadium.

Bennett enjoyed a resurgent season in the capital midfield, finishing the year with eight tries in 18 appearances, while the outside-centre made a welcome return to the international stage as he featured in Six Nations contests against France and Ireland.

Edinburgh head coach Mike Blair praised Bennett for his contribution to the team, saying: “We’re absolutely delighted to see Mark [Bennett] named Scottish Building Society Player of the Season after a brilliant year in which he was one of our most consistent and impressive performers.

“Mark was pretty candid in the fact Edinburgh fans hadn’t seen the best of him in the last few years due to injury but he was absolutely back to his best this season and I think that was evident in the way he provided a constant attacking spark with his line-breaking and carrying skills.

“Looking back at the season, there were so many games where Mark’s contributions made the difference. January’s home win against Cardiff was a match in which he cut them apart with nearly every run, while you only had to look at his try against Ulster last month which got us right back into the contest.

“Mark deserves all the plaudits he gets this year. He’s really stepped up to become an influential leader in this squad.”

Six more players picked up trophies on the night, including Emiliano Boffelli, who was voted Glen Moray Players’ Player of the Season after a