Rugby Union: Wasps take top honours

Lawrence Dallaglio, the Wasps captain and flanker, has capped his first season as an international by being named the England player of the year.

His new Wasps' colleague, Alex King, made it a club double by being voted young player of the year. Last summer Dallaglio was uncapped and no more than a promising player in the Wasps back row. Stand-off King has yet to play a Courage League First Division match, but excelled for England A when they achieved a clean sweep at second-team level.

Brian Davies, the Saracens captain and scrum-half, has been nominated as the unsung hero of the England season, despite his team's relegation from the top flight.

Gareth Rees, Canada's World Cup captain, has been lured back to Wasps from Newport. Rees played for them in the 1986 Cup final when he was an 18-year-old Harrow schoolboy.