Shaun Payne is the 46th player to receive an the prestigious ERC Elite Award for having made more than 50 appearances in the Heineken Cup.
The 35 year old, who was born in Cape Town, South Africa, has played for Munster for four seasons. This weekend, the utility back scored one of Munster's five tries in the Round 2 Heineken Cup clash against ASM Clermont Auvergne Thomond Park. Munster secured an all important bonus point and beat Clermont 36-13 capping a great day for the South African which also marked his 100th appearance in the famous red jersey of the 2006 European champions.
Shaun Payne won his first Heineken Cup cap with the former Welsh team Swansea on the 27 November 1999 against three times champions Toulouse.
He went on to make another 21 European appearances for the Welsh club before joining Munster in 2003. The South African, who has scored seven tournament tries, earned a Heineken Cup medal with Munster in 2006 after defeating Biarritz Olympique at the Millennium stadium in front of a packed house. He is one of just five South Africans to have won the coveted title.
At the start of the season Shaun Payne was named as Munster's new Team Manager but if he keeps his current form it could be a long time before he takes up that position.
Congratulations to Shaun.
Check out his full European profile in ercrugby.com's player records section.
