LV= Cup Breakthrough Player

Congratulations to Exeter Chief’s Jack Nowell, our 2012/13 LV= Breakthrough Player Award winner!

Jack was shortlisted following outstanding performances throughout the LV= Cup this season and was ranked as the top performing back in the competition.

Voted for by rugby fans, Jack will receive the LV= Breakthrough Player Award trophy, and £1,000 will be donated to the grassroots rugby initiative of his choice.

Following in the footsteps of last years winner Jonny May, Nowell debuted for England U20 team against Italy at Franklin’s Gardens last Friday.

Speaking at the announcement of the LV= Breakthrough Player Award, Nowell said:

“To win the LV=Breakthrough Player Award is massive for me. The fact that it is voted for by rugby fans makes winning a huge honour, so thanks to everyone that voted for me. It is nice to be recognised for playing the game I love and spurs me on to keep doing what I am doing.“

“I have been really fortunate with all the coaching I have had throughout my career, so would like to thank all the people who have helped me get to this stage. If the donation from LV= can help players like me, it can only be good for rugby.”

Watch Nowell being interviewed following the presentation

Jack Nowell

Club: Exeter Chiefs

Age: 19

Position: Full-back

Photo: Pinnacle Photo Agency

More about Jack

Full-back Jack Nowell has never been far away from selection for the LV= Breakthrough Player Award after each round this season due to his dangerous running game, which has been continuously catching people’s attention.

He was central in the Chiefs’ victory over Northampton Saints, ranking fourth for carries and third for metres across all players who featured. He eluded tackles, made a break and dotted down for a score in the game. Added to that was a dominant carry, five complete tackles without a miss and five kicks in play to complete an accomplished display.

Key Statistics from Round Four:

Carries - 10
Metres - 69
Defenders beaten - 3
Initial break - 1
Tackles - 7
Try scored - 1

Morgan Allen

Club: Ospreys

Age: 22

Position: Lock

More about Morgan

Morgan Allen was a model of consistency for the Ospreys in four LV= Cup appearances this season. The number 8 can be regarded as one of the strongest ball runners in the loose in the tournament this term and only two other forwards made more metres than him in attack.

Allen was also busy in defence, completing 46 tackles in total, only three other men across the competition made more tackles than him.

Key Statistics from Round Four:

Carries - 38
Metres - 158
Av Gain - 4.16
Clean breaks - 2
Defenders beaten - 11
Try scored - 3
Offloads - 2
Tackles - 46
Missed tackles - 4

Ben Spencer

Club: Saracens

Age: 20

Position: Scrum-half

More about Ben

The scrum-half produced an assured performance with the boot against Worcester to keep the scoreboard ticking over and ensure Saracens notched up the win needed to see them qualify for the semi-finals of the LV= Cup. As well as converting Ernst Jouberts early try, Spencer also nudged over five penalties to keep the Warriors at bay.

The 20-year-old has impressed ever since his arrival at Saracens from Cambridge and with more consistent and dominant performances like this he could find himself getting more and more game time for the Aviva Premiership side.

Key Statistics from Round Four:

Points - 17
Passes - 63
Passing accuracy - 97%
Tackles - 2 (100%)
Kicking accuracy - 75%

Tommy Taylor

Club: Sale Sharks

Age: 21

Position: Hooker

More about Tommy

Hooker Tommy Taylor produced a barnstorming hour for Sale who edged out London Wasps 33-30, despite scoring five tries to the hosts'' three. The victory puts Sale in the LV= Cup semi-finals, a much needed tonic for the Premiership's bottom side, according to Sharks chief Steve Diamond.

Taylor made just four carries in the match but made a gain of 25 metres, breaking the line to cross for for a try. Another dominant carry followed as the 21-year-old defeated three defenders in total. At the lineout, he found his own players with 12 of 13 throws.

Key Statistics from Round Four:

Carries - 4
Metres - 25
Initial breaks - 1
Defenders beaten - 3
Try scored - 1
Lineout success rate - 92%

Marland Yarde

Club: London Irish

Age: 20

Position: Winger

More about Marland

London Irish saw off Worcester Warriors in an entertaining match in Round 3, where the visitors made deep inroads into the Exiles’ defence despite a heavy defeat. However, star of the show was wing Marland Yarde, who bagged three of his side’s six tries.

An impressive set of match stats saw him evade six tackles, make two initial clean breaks and three dominant carries. He was the top metre-maker of all players on the pitch on the day with 90m over the gainline to his name. He also made seven tackles at a 100% success rate, including winning a turnover.

Key Statistics from Round Three:

Carries - 9
Metres - 90
Defenders beaten - 6
Initial break - 2
Tackles - 7
Try scored - 3

Joe Trayfoot

Club: Harlequins

Age: 22

Position: Back row forward

More about Joe

Back row forward Trayfoot celebrates his 22nd birthday in February and a strong performance in his side’s comfortable defeat of London Welsh will be a perfect early present. The 6’5” 17 stone player was a central figure in this match, making 11 tackles and carrying the ball up on 10 occasions.

Two dominant carries brought an initial break and defender beaten to mark his stamp on a game where he was surrounded by big names. Trayfoot also proved himself to be a nuisance in this match, highlighting his busy nature throughout the 80 minutes.

Key Statistics from Round Three:

Tackles - 11
Misses -1
Carries - 10
Dominant carries - 2
Metres - 45
Initial breaks - 1
Defenders beaten - 1

Luke Wallace

Club: Harlequins

Age: 22

Position: Back row

More about Luke

Luke Wallace put in an impressive shift in Quins’ hard-fought win over Bath in Round Two. There were no tries scored in a forward-orientated match at The Stoop and, alongside precise kicking from Ben Botica and Louis Grimoldby, it was the work of the big men which secured victory.

Wallace made an incredible 18 tackles in the match, three more than any other player and six more than any of his teammates. This was made all the more impressive by the fact they were completed at a 100% success rate, including a try-saving effort. His workload in defence was matched in attack as he carried ball on 12 occasions.

Key Statistics from Round Two:

Tackles - 18
Misses - 0
Try Savers - 1
Carries - 12
Dominant Carries - 2

Jamie Elliott

Club: Northampton Saints

Age: 21

Position: Winger

More about Jamie

Playing on the wing, 20-year-old Elliot, was the top metre-maker of the day and a try provided the ultimate personal bonus for the young Saint and England Under-20 international which helped Northampton to a 30-20 victory over Newport Gwent Dragons in Round Two.

Key Statistics from Round Two:

Carries - 11
Metres - 106
Defenders beaten - 2
Initial Break - 1
Try Scored - 1

Tom Heathcote

Club: Bath Rugby

Age: 20

Position: Fly half

More about Tom

Heathcote wasn’t the headline-grabber from Bath’s 36-15 defeat of Newport Gwent Dragons in Round One but the fly-half’s composure ultimately decided the clash at The Rec.

The 20-year-old landed eight goals from eight attempts to record a personal 21-point haul. Furthermore, Heathcote’s two try assists in the match meant he directly contributed to 31 of the 36 points the Premiership outfit scored. Throwing in a clean break, Heathcote displayed the complete array of talents that the modern day outside-half requires.

Key Statistics from Round One:

Carries - 10
Metres - 36
Try Assists - 2
Clean breaks - 1
Goals - 8 from 8

Sam Lewis

Club: Ospreys

Age: 22

Position: Back row

More about Sam

Back-rower Lewis was made captain for the day as Ospreys secured a dramatic victory over near-neighbours Gloucester in Round One.

The 22-year-old was skippering the Welsh side for the first time and impressive stats explain why it was he that took the plaudits after the game. For the amount of carries and tackles in the match, Lewis ranked joint-second and third of all players respectively. He also shrugged off a tackle and won ball for his side with an effort in defence. Four lineout takes compliment his efforts.

Key Statistics from Round One:

Carries - 9
Tackles - 10
Defenders beaten -1
Turnovers won - 1
Lineouts won - 1