SEMI Radradra, the former Parramatta Eels and future World Cup foe for the Wallabies, has capped a remarkable first season back in rugby by being nominated for the Best Player Award in French rugby.
Radradra, the flying Fijian star who joined Toulon after the 2017 NRL season, was an instant sensation in the Top 14 and that form was recognised on Wednesday when the French league announced the three-man shortlist for 2017-18 Top 14 player of the year.
Julien Dumora, Radradra and Ben Botica were the three players on the shortlist.
Castres fullback Dumora would appear to be the favourite ahead of the September 24 gala as revelation of the year, playing 24 of their 29 Top 14 games and scoring 12 tries.
But Radradra, who has left Toulon to join Bordeaux, is also in contention after hitting the ground running. He is expected to play for Fiji at next year’s Rugby World Cup, in which they share a pool with the Wallabies.
New Zealander Botica’s case is interesting in that his side Oyonnax were relegated, despite the fly-half turning in a dominant season that brought him a personal tally of 318 points, making him the leading scorer in the Top 14 last season
