The ten nominees for the 2026 Investec Player of the Year award have been announced, recognising the players who delivered outstanding performances during the pool stage of the Investec Champions Cup. Selected by a distinguished panel of rugby legends and broadcast experts, these players are expected to play a pivotal role as the competition heads into the Round of 16 in early April.
Union Bordeaux Bègles and Glasgow Warriors were both flawless during the pool stage, recording bonus-point victories in all four matches, and it is no surprise to see several of their players among the nominees. Bordeaux winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, the tournament’s leading try-scorer with six, earns a nomination alongside teammate Matthieu Jalibert, who scored the most points in the opening two rounds and currently totals four tries and seven conversions. For Glasgow Warriors, Jack Dempsey is recognised for his exceptional attacking and defensive contribution, leading the competition for carries and ranking third for tackles.
Bath Rugby is also well represented, with two nominees. Alfie Barbeary, Investec Player of the Match in both Round 3 and Round 4, is joined by Finn Russell, who amassed an impressive 51 points and 21 conversions during the pool stage. Bath will face Saracens in the Round of 16, with Saracens’ Tom Willis earning his nomination thanks to his strong attacking displays and an impressive 85% tackle success rate.
Thomas Ramos has been instrumental in securing Stade Toulousain’s home advantage for the Round of 16. The competition’s top points scorer, Ramos, has accumulated 53 points and 24 conversions so far. Leinster Rugby captain Caelan Doris also features among the nominees after leading his side to four pool stage victories and top spot in their pool.
Northampton Saints’ George Hendy, Investec Player of the Match in Round 2, and DHL Stormers’ Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu - who also features among the nominees for the SA Rugby Men’s and Young Player of the Year awards - complete the shortlist, following strong pool stage performances with their respective clubs.
The nominees were selected by a renowned judging panel following the conclusion of the pool stages of both the Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup, including Simon Zebo (Premier Sports, former Munster Rugby and Racing 92 player), Dimitri Yachvili (France Télévisions, EPCR Challenge Cup winner), Elma Smit (sports presenter and producer), Ryan Wilson (Premier Sports, former Glasgow Warriors player) and Topsy Ojo (Premier Sports, former London Irish player).
Public voting for one of the most prestigious individual honours in world rugby is now open at epcrugby.com/ipoty and will remain open until the end of the quarter-finals on Sunday, 12 April. A shortlist of five players will then be determined through a combination of public votes and the judges’ selections, before fans are invited to vote again to decide the 2026 Investec Player of the Year alongside the judges.
The winner, who will receive the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy, will be announced following the Investec Champions Cup Final at Bilbao’s San Mamés Stadium on Saturday, 23 May.
2026 Investec Player of the Year nominees
Alfie Barbeary (Bath Rugby)
Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Union Bordeaux Bègles)
Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors)
Caelan Doris (Leinster Rugby)
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers)
George Hendy (Northampton Saints)
Matthieu Jalibert (Union Bordeaux Bègles)
Thomas Ramos (Stade Toulousain)
Finn Russell (Bath Rugby)
Tom Willis (Saracens)
Roll of Honour
2025: Damian Penaud (Union Bordeaux Bègles)
2024: Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain)
2023: Gregory Alldritt (Stade Rochelais)
2022: Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby)
2021: Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain)
2020: Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
2019: Alex Goode (Saracens)
2018: Leone Nakarawa (Racing 92)
2017: Owen Farrell (Saracens)
2016: Maro Itoje (Saracens)
2015: Nick Abendanon (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
2014: Steffon Armitage (RC Toulon)
2013: Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon)
2012: Rob Kearney (Leinster Rugby)
2011: Sean O’Brien (Leinster Rugby)
2010: Ronan O’Gara (Munster Rugby – best player of first 15 years of European club rugby)
Roll of Honour
2025: Damian Penaud (Union Bordeaux Bègles)
2024: Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain)
2023: Gregory Alldritt (Stade Rochelais)
2022: Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby)
2021: Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain)
2020: Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
2019: Alex Goode (Saracens)
2018: Leone Nakarawa (Racing 92)
2017: Owen Farrell (Saracens)
2016: Maro Itoje (Saracens)
2015: Nick Abendanon (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
2014: Steffon Armitage (RC Toulon)
2013: Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon)
2012: Rob Kearney (Leinster Rugby)
2011: Sean O’Brien (Leinster Rugby)
2010: Ronan O’Gara (Munster Rugby – best player of first 15 years of European club rugby)