Mat Turner nominated for Sevens Player of the Year

England's Mathew Turner – the UCT Ikey Tigers top try scorer in the 2009 Varsity Cup – has been shortlisted as a contender for the IRB International Sevens Player of the Year Award.

Turner, 24, has enjoyed a spectacular season playing at centre of halfback – scoring eight tries in six games at last weekend's Glasgow Sevens, where England were beaten 29-14 in the final by New Zealand.

One of 12 full-time contracted sevens players on England's books, Mat has scored an impressive 33 tries this season – just two less than teammate Dan Norton, who leads the series try table going into this weekend's London Sevens.

The former Bristol wing faces competition from two New Zealanders – halfback Tomasi Cama and wing Frank Halai – for the accolade, which will be presented after the ninth and final leg of this season's Sevens World Series at Twickenham this coming weekend.

South Africa's Cecil Afrika picked up last season's honours, with Turner – of course – having been born and bred in Cape Town.

Mat who was recently spotted 'coaching' at a UCT Rugby Social Tocuh Rugby event said: "It's a real honour to be nominated and to be held in that regard by your peers.

"My form's been good this season but I get put in the position to score the tries and it's a team effort. I've just found myself in the right place at the right time – so I can't complain about that!"