The Ligue National du Rugby, which organises professional rugby in France, has just had its seventh Nuit du Rugby at which it has made awards.

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Professional rugby has to do with the Top 14 and ProD2 and so those competitions are the focus of the awards. The LNR decides on the awards in collaboration with Provale (the union of professional players) and the body of coaches.

France scrumhalf Morgan Parra has been chosen as Player of the Year.

Also chosen was a Team of the Year, in other words the best players in each position during the 2009/10 season.

England’s 2003 World Cup hero, Jonny Wilkinson, was a popular choice in the team, whilst high-profile rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams was also included in the team at outside centre.

The awards:

Champions of France in Top 14: Clermont Auvergne
Champions of France in Pro D2: Agen
Player of the Year in Top 14: Morgan Parra (Clermont Auvergne)
Best New Player in Top 14: Marc Andreu (Castres)
Best New Player in ProD2: Benjamin Ferrou (La Rochelle)
Best Referee: Christophe Berdos
Most tries: Jamie Noon and Steve Thompson (Brive)
Prix d’Honneur: Toulouse for winning the Heineken Cup for the fourth time
Best coaching staff in Top 14: Clermont Auvergne
Best coaching staff in Pro D2: La Rochelle
Best attendance: Stade Français Paris

Top 14 Team of the Season:

15 Clément Poitrenaud (Toulouse)
14 Vincent Clerc (Toulouse)
13 Sonny Bill Williams (Toulon)
12 Yannick Jauzion (Toulouse)
11 Marc Andreu (Castres)
10 Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon)*
9 Morgan Parra (Clermont)
8 Juan Martín Fernandez Lobbe (Toulon)
7 Chris Masoe (Castres)
6 Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse)
5 Patricio Albacete (Toulouse)
4 Lionel Nallet (Racing-Metro)
3 Nicolas Mas (Perpignan)
2 William Servat (Toulouse)
1 Thomas Domingo (Clermont)

* Wilkinson received the most votes – 90% in all.