Glaswegian centre Scott Plumridge has been voted Scotland Rugby League Student Player of the Year for 2016 and will receive the Roy Kinnear Award. The 20-year-old, who plays his club rugby league for Edinburgh Eagles, excelled during the Student Four Nations in Edinburgh last summer. He has played for Scotland at Under-19, Student and senior level, having won his first cap in the 2015 European Championship. The Edinburgh College student, who plays union in Glasgow for GHA, played for Steve McCormack’s Bravehearts in the narrow defeat to Wales and played in Toulouse against France.

“There were many great performers at the 2016 Student Four Nations” says Scotland Students head coach Nathan Graham. “But the person who stood out was Scott. Playing primarily in the right centre he was always a handful carrying the ball, and defensively he threw everything he had at the opposition, coming up with some really strong plays. Scott undoubtedly has the potential to play at a high level in rugby league and hopefully, as he plays more and more games, that potential may come to fruition.”

Plumridge, who plays centre or second-row forward, spent much of last year training with Sheffield Eagles but was unable to breakthrough into their Championship side but hopes to play down under this year. “Coming off the pitch after beating Ireland in the Student Four Nations was my highlight of 2016. My ambitions in 2017 are to go to the Student World Cup in Australia and I’m hoping to play for Mittagong Lions out there.”

Plumridge was the runaway winner of the award from votes cast by five members of the management team, including coaches Nathan Graham and Jamie Benn – both former Scotland internationalists and Super League players. Runner-up was Finlay Hutchison of Newcastle University and Edinburgh Eagles, who also made his full Scotland debut in 2015 against France, while 2015’s Under-19 Player of the Year, Luke Walters, stepped up to the Students and was voted third-best performer.

The award is named after one of Scotland’s greatest ever rugby league players, Roy Kinnear senior, star centre for the Scotland rugby union team before moving from Heriots FP to Wigan for huge transfer fee in 1927. He scored the first of his 81 tries for the Cherry and Whites on his debut and played in 184 games for Wigan. The most famous was the first Challenge Cup Final at Wembley when Kinnear’s try helped Wigan beat Dewsbury in 1929. Later that year he made his one appearance for Great Britain against Australia at Hull KR, and won three caps for Other Nationalities. Kinnear died playing rugby union for the RAF at Uxbridge in 1944. His son Roy junior became a TV and film star noted for his comedic acting and his grandson Rory is now one the nation’s most successful screen and stage actors.
Scott will receive his award at the start of the new season.

Roy Kinnear Award – Scotland Students Player of the Year
2015 Oliver Murray
2014 Dan Parker
2013 Louis Senter
2012 Callum Boyle
2011 Jordan Rice
2010 Jordan Rice
2009 Mike Scott
2008 Scott Porteous
2007 Barry Earl
2006 James Morrow
2005 David Simm
2004 Andy McPhail