The LV= Cup Breakthrough Player Award launched this month, designed to recognise a young player who has stood out in the 2011-12 competition, is still taking votes for the inaugural winner, with four English and two Welsh talents in with a chance to claim the prize.
The LV= Cup Breakthrough Player Award launched this month, designed to recognise a young player who has stood out in the 2011-12 competition, is still taking votes for the inaugural winner, with four English and two Welsh talents in with a chance to claim the prize.
Included among the six finalists is Worcester Warriors and England Under 20 back-row Matt Kvesic. The nineteen-year-old, who captained England Under 20 against Scotland in last summer’s IRB Junior World Championship, and has started the last 11 competitive Under 20 matches, says that his nomination came as a bit of a shock.
“I found out through the club website actually, just by chance,” he said. “I was pretty surprised – it’s nice to be nominated among those players and it was a huge surprise to be honest.”
Kvesic joined Worcester Warriors while still at school and made his first team debut in the club’s LV= Cup match against Scarlets while still studying for his A levels. Two season’s later and he is still making his presence known in the competition, shown by his nomination for the LV= Cup Breakthrough Player Award.
On the other nominees he added: “I know JJ [Jonathan Joseph] and Fordy [George Ford] very well from last year’s Under 20s and Jonny May has been in outstanding form with Gloucester and the two Welsh boys have been doing very well in their region. It’s a tough pick really but if I had to choose, I’d probably opt for Fordy. He’s my roommate for the 20s so I’ve got to go for him!”
The LV= Cup is credited for playing a crucial role in the development of elite players and the introduction of the LV= Breakthrough Player Award aims to recognise and celebrate this talent. And as Kvesic comments, the competition has been key for his own game.
“The LV= Cup is massive for development. The Premiership is so full on, the games are so tough and there isn’t necessarily a huge amount of change from the starting team, so it’s good when the LV= Cup games come around. Boys who play week in week out have a rest and the other guys have a chance to push their way into the squad.
“We put some really good performances in and it’s good to test yourself against players of your own age and those who have been playing the game for a long time. I think that’s really important for the development of young players. “
To vote for you LV= Cup Breakthrough Player, visit www.lv.com/rugby. Voting closes at midnight on Sunday 11 March. The winner will be announced on Tuesday 13 March.
The LV= Cup Final is coming to Sixways, Worcester on Sunday, 18 March. Secure two tickets for just £20 with a 2-for-1 offer on the first 1,000 tickets sold for the battle for this season’s first piece of silverware. These tickets will sell fast so book now at 01905 454183 or www.warriors.co.uk
· George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
· Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
· Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
· Liam Williams (Scarlets)
· Matthew Morgan (Ospreys)
· Matt Kvesic (Worcester Warriors)
“I found out through the club website actually, just by chance. I was pretty surprised – it’s nice to be nominated among those players and it was a huge surprise to be honest…"