Ben Youngs and Dan Cole have both been nominated in the 2010 Rugby Players Association awards.
The Tigers pair have graduated through the Academy at Welford Road to establish themselves in the first-team squad and to senior international status with England during 2009/10.
Their efforts have been recognised by their fellow players as they have been nominated for the Norman Broadbent Young Player of the Year Award by the RPA.
Nominee Cole said: “This is a great surprise and has come at the end of a bit of a dream season for me. It's a fantastic honour to be recognised like this by the guys you play against, who know best the work and effort that all the players put in to the season.
“I'm very proud to be nominated alongside four other players who’ve had phenomenal seasons, and this is a great confidence-boost for Ben and I as we prepare to help Leicester finish the season with a good showing in the play-offs."
The winners will be announced at the RPA Computacenter Rugby Players' Awards Dinner on May 26 in the company of more than 100 current and former players.
Last year’s Young Player of the Year was Ben Foden and this year he has been shortlisted for the Computacenter Players' Player Award.
Damian Hopley, RPA chief executive, said: "Winning the Players' Player Award represents the ultimate accolade for any athlete, and all of our nominees have had outstanding seasons, so thoroughly deserve this accolade.
“It is also great credit to the Guinness Premiership that all the nominees for the Norman Broadbent Young Player Award are English qualified, which showcases the wealth of emerging home-grown talent.
"The winners will be announced in front of an audience of stars from the Guinness Premiership and the International game at the RPA Computacenter Rugby Players' Awards Dinner on May 26th. It is an opportunity for the RPA and rugby supporters to show our thanks and appreciation to the players for their efforts this season, and to raise some much needed funds for deserving player causes.”
The nominations in full are:
Computacenter Players' Player of the Year
Steffon Armitage - London Irish
Schalk Brits - Saracens
Phil Dowson - Northampton Saints
Ben Foden - Northampton Saints
Soane Tonga'Uiha - Northampton Saints
Norman Broadbent Young Player of the Year: The Nick Duncombe Memorial Trophy
Chris Ashton - Northampton Saints
Dan Cole - Leicester Tigers
Courtney Lawes - Northampton Saints
Dominic Waldouck - London Wasps
Ben Youngs - Leicester Tigers
The Tigers pair have graduated through the Academy at Welford Road to establish themselves in the first-team squad and to senior international status with England during 2009/10.
Their efforts have been recognised by their fellow players as they have been nominated for the Norman Broadbent Young Player of the Year Award by the RPA.
Nominee Cole said: “This is a great surprise and has come at the end of a bit of a dream season for me. It's a fantastic honour to be recognised like this by the guys you play against, who know best the work and effort that all the players put in to the season.
“I'm very proud to be nominated alongside four other players who’ve had phenomenal seasons, and this is a great confidence-boost for Ben and I as we prepare to help Leicester finish the season with a good showing in the play-offs."
The winners will be announced at the RPA Computacenter Rugby Players' Awards Dinner on May 26 in the company of more than 100 current and former players.
Last year’s Young Player of the Year was Ben Foden and this year he has been shortlisted for the Computacenter Players' Player Award.
Damian Hopley, RPA chief executive, said: "Winning the Players' Player Award represents the ultimate accolade for any athlete, and all of our nominees have had outstanding seasons, so thoroughly deserve this accolade.
“It is also great credit to the Guinness Premiership that all the nominees for the Norman Broadbent Young Player Award are English qualified, which showcases the wealth of emerging home-grown talent.
"The winners will be announced in front of an audience of stars from the Guinness Premiership and the International game at the RPA Computacenter Rugby Players' Awards Dinner on May 26th. It is an opportunity for the RPA and rugby supporters to show our thanks and appreciation to the players for their efforts this season, and to raise some much needed funds for deserving player causes.”
The nominations in full are:
Computacenter Players' Player of the Year
Steffon Armitage - London Irish
Schalk Brits - Saracens
Phil Dowson - Northampton Saints
Ben Foden - Northampton Saints
Soane Tonga'Uiha - Northampton Saints
Norman Broadbent Young Player of the Year: The Nick Duncombe Memorial Trophy
Chris Ashton - Northampton Saints
Dan Cole - Leicester Tigers
Courtney Lawes - Northampton Saints
Dominic Waldouck - London Wasps
Ben Youngs - Leicester Tigers
