The great and the good of French rugby will gather at the Olympia theatre in Paris on Monday evening as the Ligue National de Rugby hands out its annual awards at La Nuit du Rugby.
This will be the 15th edition of the awards, with a number of awards on offer including, for the first the very first time, a prize for the player of the year in the Top 8 – the highest level of women’s club rugby in France.
The three players in contention are France international pair Caroline Drouin and Safi N’Diaye, and Scotland No.8 Jade Konkel.
So ahead of the awards, find out a little bit more about the trio who are up for the top prize. Caroline Drouin At 22, Rennes playmaker Caroline Drouin is the youngest player in contention but gets the nod after a successful season with the Breton side.
Capable of playing in the centres or at fly-half, Drouin was also a key figure in France’s Women’s Six Nations victory where she and Pauline Bourdon formed a young half-back pairing.
Her highlight arguably came against England where her first-half try played an important role in the 18-17 success that ultimately clinched the title for Les Bleues.
Her club side Rennes finished fifth in last year’s Top 8 (now the Elite 1), narrowly missing out on the play-offs. Safi N’Diaye The vastly experienced Safi N’Diaye is up for the award after helping her Montpellier side to a fifth title in the last six years.
The 30-year-old was nominated by World Rugby for their World Player of the Year award and carried that form into the 2017/18 season.
Part of the French side that won the Grand Slam in February and March, N’Diaye has shown her versatility by switching to the second row at international level.
Now joined at Montpellier by international teammates Romane and Marine Ménager, as well as former France skipper Gaëlle Mignot, N’Diaye has made another strong start to the new season at club level.
Jade Konkel It says something of the impact Jade Konkel can have that in just one season she was able to earn a nomination for the best player in the Top 8.
The Scotland international arrived at Lille Métropole Villeneuveois last year and helped them reach the semi-finals of the French Championship.
While they were beaten at that stage by Toulouse, surrendering their title in the process, Konkel impressed throughout.
Usually a No.8, she also took a step into the unknown at international level when she switched to loosehead prop during the Six Nations.
At the end of the season, Konkel left Lille to join Harlequins in the Premier 15s, but there is no question that the powerful 24-year-old made her mark in her season in France.
