England's victorious Six Nations Championship skipper Matt Dawson was named Rugby Football Union player of the year on Wednesday night.

Dawson missed Northampton's Heineken Cup final triumph over Munster last Saturday and is sidelined from the England summer tour of South Africa due to pending shoulder surgery.

But his contribution towards the Six Nations title-winning campaign was recognised in a glittering awards ceremony at London's Grosvenor Hotel.

Having replaced the injured Martin Johnson as England captain it will be role reversal against South Africa later this month Dawson led England to four victories from five starts.

They crushed Ireland, Wales and Italy, beat France in Paris but then blew their grand slam hopes by losing against Scotland in a Murrayfield monsoon.

While Dawson collected the RFU's top honour, his England Six Nations colleague Iain Balshaw completed a hat-trick of award successes.

The Bath wing was chosen as young player of the year to follow similar end-of-season awards presented to him by Allied Dunbar and the Professional Rugby Players' Association.

Lawrence Dallaglio's powerful solo touchdown against Wales earned him best England try, with wing Ben Cohen as best England debutant after a two-try performance during the rout of Ireland.

Bath centre Jeremy Guscott, who retired from international rugby during last autumn's World Cup following a memorable Test match career, captured the RFU outstanding achievement award.

Award winners: Rugby News RFU player of the year Matt Dawson; Pro Sport RFU young player of the year Iain Balshaw; Lloyds TSB Six Nations best England debut Ben Cohen; Lloyds TSB Six Nations best England try Lawrence Dallaglio; RFU best tackle Jonny Wilkinson, versus France (Emile Ntamack).

RFU outstanding achievement award Jeremy Guscott; UNISYS top points scorer Jarrod Cunningham (London Irish); UNISYS top try scorer Richard Newton (Penzance and Newlyn); UNISYS top drop goal scorer Stuart Witman (Redruth); RFU unsung hero Steve Hancock (referee, London).