Saints star North nominated for European Player of the Year prize

The Wales wing will be up against the likes of Ulster’s Ruan Pienaar and Toulon’s Jonny Wilkinson, the current holder of the award, for the title.

North could help his cause with some stellar performances for Saints in the Amlin Challenge Cup knock-out stages.

The judging panel will make their decision on a five-man shortlist after the semi-finals of the Amlin competition and the Heineken Cup.

A winner will then be announced after the finals weekend in Cardiff on May 23/24.

European Player of the Year nominees

George North (Saints)

Steffon Armitage (Toulon)

Miles Benjamin (Leicester Tigers)

Sean Cronin (Leinster Rugby)

Jean-Marc Doussain (Toulouse)

Matt Giteau (Toulon)

Alex Goode (Saracens)

Cian Healy (Leinster Rugby)

Fritz Lee (ASM Clermont Auvergne)

Paul O’Connell (Munster Rugby)

Peter O’Mahony (Munster Rugby)

Louis Picamoles (Toulouse)

Ruan Pienaar (Ulster Rugby)

Sitiveni Sivivatu (ASM Clermont Auvergne)

Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon)

The judging panel is made up of Stuart Barnes (Sky Sports), Mick Cleary (Daily Telegraph Rugby Correspondent), Emmanuel Massicard (Editor, Midi Olympique), Emile Ntamack (three-time Heineken Cup winner with Toulouse) and Gerry Thornley (Irish Times Rugby Correspondent).

In addition to the decision of the panel, the 44 clubs in the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup will have the opportunity to vote for contenders nominated on the ERC European Player of the Year 2014 shortlist while supporters can also have their say on Twitter using #ERCPlayer2014, and on the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup Facebook pages.