As the finals weekend of the European club rugby season fast approaches, ERC have named a shortlist of five players who are in contention for the northern hemisphere's most prestigious individual accolade, ERC European Player of the Year 2012.
Dublin is in line for a major economic boost next year when the Irish capital becomes the epicentre of European club rugby with the staging of both the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup finals in May 2013.
Nigel Owens will referee his third Heineken Cup final when he takes charge of this season's showpiece European club rugby match between Leinster Rugby and Ulster Rugby at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, 19 May.
Steffon Armitage has rekindled his love of playing rugby with Toulon and is determined to help them collect their first bit of silverware for 20 years when they clash with Biarritz Olympique in the Amlin Challenge Cup final at the Twickenham Stoop on Friday night (8pm).
Biarritz Olympique - the 2006 and 2010 Heineken Cup finalists - hope it's third time lucky in their pursuit of a European title when they clash with Toulon in the Amlin Challenge Cup Final at the Twickenham Stoop on Friday night (8pm).
