Saracens Player of the Year snub 'laughable', says Jamie George

Jamie George revealed he laughed when Saracens were snubbed over this season’s Player of the Year award.

The shortlist for the Rugby Players’ Association’s major honour did not feature a single player from Sarries despite the club’s great form this campaign.

Maro Itoje has been nominated for Young Player of the Season but George believes the second-row and partner George Kruis deserved a nomination with Billy and Mako Vunipola also worthy of recognition in a ballot of fellow Premiership players.

Asked whether there is bias against the reigning champions, who are chasing a European and league double, George said: “It was a huge shock and made me laugh a little bit.

“I don’t know why it has happened because we score as many tries as any other team in the Premiership.

“I can’t really get my head around it because we play a pretty exciting brand of rugby and if you look at the form this season of Maro, George, Billy and Mako, then it is difficult to understand.

“I don’t get any negative feedback from other teams about Sarries and it’s all pretty positive.

“A lot of the guys enjoy playing against Sarries because we are more often than not at the top of table and they want to challenge themselves against the league leaders.

“I wouldn’t say anyone envies us and maybe it’s a wind-up!”