News

Kelleher wins French accolade

September 23 2008

Former All Black and current Toulouse scrum-half Byron Kelleher has won the Top 14 Player of the Year award at the French nuit de rugby on Monday.

Kelleher, whose form pushed French international scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde to fly-half at Toulouse for much of last season, has been in scintillating form for his club since touching down in south-west France, and beat off Argentinian Juan Hernandez to the gong.

Kelleher's team-mate Maxime Medard won the Newcomer of the Year, pipping Clermont sensation Napolioni Nalaga to that award.

In what was a near-clean sweep for the Toulousains, coach Guy Noves and his assistants Yannick Bru and Philippe Rouge-Thomas took Trainers of the Year.

Castres lock and current France captain Lionel Nallet was chosen as the best international for the second consecutive season, while New Zealand back Orene Ai'i, who plays for Toulon, won Pro D2 player of the year.

Christophe Berdos was voted best referee.