Sensational Fiji flanker Akapusi Qera has been nominated for the Guinness Premiership Player of the Season award.
Gloucester’s Flying Fijians import has had an amazing season, scoring five tries for his team in the Guinness Premiership (2007-2008) season, 16 tries last season.
His tremendous pace and footwork has caused tremors in the Premiership, which has recognised him as one of the best-ever improving flankers of today.
"He's a world-class player," Dean Ryan, Gloucester’s head coach told Telegraph.co.uk
"I've been saying it all season, because it was obvious from the moment we brought him to the club that he was a special talent.”
Qera delivered his best performance yet against Bath during the week (Gloucester 8-6 Bath) - disrupting and destroying his opponents offloading game with his, according to Telegraph, up-and-at-'em defence and breaking the contest, in so far as it was ever broken, with a sublime, soft-handed pass that resulted in a ricocheting finish from James Simpson-Daniel.
"What impresses me most is his ability to fit into a structure, which runs against the stereotype of the Fijian player,” Ryan explained.
“He may have learnt his rugby in an unstructured environment, and when he goes back this summer to play for his country he may revert to that. But here he has proved he can adapt to the needs of the team. He's keeping Andy Hazell out of the side at the moment. It takes a good player to do that."
Gloucester’s James Simpson-Daniel too has been nominated for the award. Nominations
Premiership Player of the Season: Olly Barkley –Bath, Danny Cipriani – Wasps, Akapusi Qera – Gloucester, Paul Sackey – Wasps, James Simpson-Daniel – Gloucester, Discovery of the Season: Matthew Banahan – Bath, Danny Care, Harlequins, Danny Cipriani – Wasps, Ben Foden – Sale, Chris Robshaw – Harlequins, Director of Rugby of the Season: Steve Meehan – Bath, Dean Richards – Harlequins, Dean Ryan – Gloucester, Try of the Season: Tom Guest (Leeds v Harlequins, April 13, 2008), Kai Horstmann (Sale v Worcester, February 29, 2008), Johne Murphy (Leicester v Bath, September 22, 2007), James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester v Bath, May 10, 2008), Fraser Waters (Wasps v Leeds, September 30, 2007), Community Player of the Season: Duncan Bell – Bath, Andy Kyriacou – Saracens, Joe Shaw – Newcastle, Sam Tuitupou – Worcester, Dave Walder – Wasps
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