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Halfpenny wins Rugby Union Writers' Award

14th January 2014


Cardiff Blues full-back Leigh Halfpenny has won the Rugby Union Writers' Club Player of the Year Award for 2013.

The 25-year-old, who was voted man of the series in the British and Irish Lions win over Australia last summer, picked up the Pat Marshall Trophy at a dinner on Monday night.

Team-mate Sam Warburton, Martin Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson, Jonah Lomu and Lawrence Dallaglio are among past winners.

Wales international Halfpenny has enjoyed a stunning 12 months. He scored 49 points in the summer's three Lions Test matches, breaking Neil Jenkins' record for most points in a series including 21 in the 41-16 third Test win in Sydney.

He was later shortlisted for the IRB Player of the Year award and was 2013 Six Nations Player of the Tournament after helping Wales to the title in March.

He was named BBC Wales' Sports Personality of the Year and came second to Wimbledon champion Andy Murray in the BBC's main Sports Personality of the Year vote.

At a dinner in London on Monday night, tankards for unsung heroes of rugby were presented to Rob Smith the former Wasps player, coach and academy manager, Sam Drury who has played 700 games for Ossett Rugby Club and Roy Lewis, a stalwart of Ebbw Vale