Saints ace Mallinder nominated for RPA award

Saints ace Harry Mallinder has been nominated for the RPA's LV= young player of the year award.

Mallinder will be up against Leicester Tigers hooker Harry Thacker, Saracens lock Maro Itoje, Harlequins flanker Jack Clifford and Wasps centre Elliot Daly.

Harry Mallinder is up for an RPA award (picture: Sharon Lucey)

placeholder image — Harry Mallinder is up for an RPA award (picture: Sharon Lucey)

The award, which will be presented to the winner at the RPA players’ awards in London on May 11, is voted for by the players and all nominees must have been 23 years or younger at the start of the season.

Mallinder has put himself in contention after a fine breakthrough campaign at Saints.

The 19-year-old shot to prominence when scoring the winning try as a replacement on his Champions Cup debut against Glasgow Warriors in January.

That man of the match display was followed by another, at Scarlets on the following weekend.

And the Academy graduate has gone on to become an important member of the first-team squad, scoring a total of four tries in 14 appearances so far this season.