England’s No. 8, Billy Vunipola won England Player of the Year after producing three man-of-the-match performances from five games to help his team win the 2016 RBS Six Nations Championship.

Vunipola edged out Chris Robshaw, Anthony Watson, and George Kruis to win the award at the Rugby Players Association dinner on Wednesday night in London.

At last year’s Rugby World Cup, he only played two games due to injury and returned this year with stella performances earning himself man-of-the-match against Scotland, Ireland and France.

Billy comes from a family of rugby players. His brother, Mako, has 32 caps for England, and their father Fe'ao, a hooker, played for Tonga as well as six of their uncles and grandfather.

George Smith

Former Wallaby, George Smith won Players’ Player of the Year as he continued his outstanding form guiding his team Wasps to a semi-final berth this Saturday in the Aviva Premiership.

Smith gained the highest number of votes from his fellow professional players and is in his 17th year of professional rugby.

"It's a truly humbling feeling to receive this award, especially as it's voted for by my peers,' said the 35-year-old flanker.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my season playing in England and representing such a determined and driven club like Wasps has made my job so much easier.

Smith also acted as a breakdown consultant for Eddie Jones’s Six Nations Grand Slam winning England squad.

In his younger days, Smith attended Tupou College in Tonga to complete year 10 before returning to Australia.

See:

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/news/england/30128.php#g8OZGtQJiXse71SA.97 [2]

http://www.englandrugby.com/england/senior-england-men/squads/billy-vunipola/ [3]