Penaud wins Champions Cup player of the year

Damian Penaud, a wing for Bordeaux-Begles, has been named the Investec Champions Cup player of the year.

The 28-year-old scored two tries on Saturday in Bordeaux’ 28-20 Champions Cup victory over Northampton Saints at Principality Stadium.

The France wing’s two tries in Cardiff increased his record for tries scored in this year’s competition to 14 with those two.

When Penaud crossed for his 12th Champions Cup try this campaign, Munster won in Bordeaux’ quarter-final victory.

He takes home the award from Toulouse’s English back row Jack Willis, Leinster and New Zealand center Jordie Barrett, and Northampton flanker Henry Pollock, who had a breakout season.

In a pool match against Sharks, Penaud scored a tournament-record six tries, which was crucial to Bordeaux’s first Champions Cup triumph in its history.