Get voting for Chiefs duo

By Mark Stevens
8/3/17

Exeter Chiefs duo Stuart Townsend and Sam Simmonds are both on the shortlist for the 2016-17 Anglo-Welsh Cup Breakthrough Player Award and it’s now up to you to decide who will emerge as the winner.

The Breakthrough Player Award is open to the best Under-23 players in the Anglo-Welsh Cup with shortlisted players named after each round from statistics compiled by the boffins at OPTA. All ten have made a huge impact on the competition.

This year the competition is being supported by Citizen Watch UK who will provide the overall winner with the latest Citizen Skyhawk A-T watch and Gilbert who will supply £1,000 worth of kit to a grassroots club of the winner's choice.

Using OPTA match statistics, a forward and back from each round, along with two players with outstanding overall competition statistics form the shortlist.

To vote for your favourite click here. The winner will be announced prior to the Anglo-Welsh Cup Final which is on Sunday 19 March at the Twickenham Stoop.

Launched in 2012, the Breakthrough Player Award celebrates and recognises those young players who have stood out in the tournament with previous winners Jack Nowell, Jonny May, Tom Collins and Ollie Devoto.

So now it is time for you to get voting…

The shortlist:

Zach Mercer – Bath Rugby
Josh Adams – Worcester Warriors
Sam Simmonds – Exeter Chiefs
Tom Howe – Wasps
James Chisholm – Harlequins
Stu Townsend – Exeter Chiefs
Harry Mallinder – Northampton Saints
Cameron Orr – Gloucester Rugby
Jack Willis – Wasps
Tom Whiteley - Saracens