Jonny Wilkinson has been named the ERC European Player of the Year for 2013. The flyhalf yesterday captained Toulon to their first Heineken Cup with a win over Clermont Auvergne at the Aviva Stadium. Wilkinson scored eleven of his side’s sixteen points.

The 33 year old collected his award at a ceremony in Dublin today.

"To receive an award of this importance towards the end of my career is really special. I feel privileged to have been nominated," said Wilkinson.

Wilkinson was on a shortlist that included Wesley Fofana, Jamie Heaslip, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Julien Bonnaire.

The judging panel for the award consisted of Stuart Barnes, Will Greenwood, Stephen Jones, Jacques Verdier and Gerry Thornley.