Leicester Tigers hooker Tom Youngs has been named the Aviva Premiership Rugby Player of the Season.
The award came at the Aviva Premiership Rugby Awards at the London Hilton.
It caps a remarkable year for Youngs, who not only earned a place on this summer's British and Irish Lions tour to Australia but he became England's number one choice as hooker.
Youngs, who will make his 50th appearance for Leicester's first team in their Aviva Premiership semi-final with Harlequins tomorrow, could hardly believe he had been picked to succeed Chris Robshaw, last year's winner.
He said: "I'm over the moon. It's been an unbelievable season for me and I'd like to thank all my team-mates at Leicester and the coaching staff who have helped me so much.
"Simon Hardy, my throwing coach, has been outstanding for me for the last three years.
"I knew I was up for the award, but to win it is fantastic. There are some great players and to win against them. I can't really put into words.
"Chris [Robshaw] won it last year and is a great bloke and a great mentor to learn from so it's great to follow in his footsteps."
It was the 26-year-old's positional switch from centre to hooker that made him stand out from the other nominees.
"His story is extraordinary," said Phil Winstanley, the Rugby Director at Premiership Rugby.
"To move from the centre to hooker is practically unheard of in professional rugby. To then go on to make your England debut and a Lions tour the following season is what dreams are made of!
"If you'd suggested such a move could be done a few years ago in Aviva Premiership Rugby people would have doubted your sanity, but Tom has proved almost anything is possible.
"I am sure that he will be the first to tell you that this award is also a tribute to the coaching staff at Leicester Tigers who have helped him every step of the way.
"He wouldn't be on the Lions tour and have become England's first choice hooker without their patience, dedication and expertise and it is such a positive endorsement of the Leicester Tigers academy system which has produced Tom and five of his team mates for this year's Lions tour.
"Tom certainly didn't get it his own way in the voting with every player on the shortlist getting significant support. In the end though, it was Tom's positional move and what he has achieved in such a short time that edged it his way."
