Aviva Premiership
Shortlist for Director of the Year announced
ESPN Staff
April 28, 2014
Leicester boss Richard Cockerill watches his side in action from from a small window in a portacabin as he serves his touch line ban, Leicester Tigers v Worcester Warriors, Aviva Premiership, Welford Road, Leicester, September 8, 2013
A season of contrasting fortunes for Richard Cockerill who was reduced to watching his side from a portacabin last September after being slapped with a touchline ban © PA Photos
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Coaches at Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks and Saracens feature on the shortlist for the Director of Rugby of the Season award.

Last year's winner Mark McCall, the director of rugby at current Premiership leaders, Saracens, is joined by Richard Cockerill (Leicester Tigers) and Steve Diamond (Sale Sharks) on the three-man shortlist. Cockerill is also a previous winner in 2008-09.

"We are very fortunate to have some of the best coaches in the world but that ensured the judging panel had a tough job," said Phil Winstanley the rugby director at Premiership Rugby. "All three on the shortlist were presented with their own different challenges and have led their clubs into next season's European Rugby Champions Cup.

"Mark has managed a superb season for Saracens leading the charge at the top of Aviva Premiership Rugby and steering his side into a Heineken Cup final whilst Richard has had a tough season losing numerous players to injury yet picking up significant momentum going into the end of season and narrowly missing out in Clermont in a fantastic Heineken Cup quarter final.

"Steve has had a massive impact in different circumstances; after a tough season last season he has led the Sharks into the top six against the expectations of most pundits and they can now look forward to elite European competition next season.

"I see the quality and professionalism of the whole group on a continuous basis and I believe that we are extremely fortunate to have such a stellar list of coaches."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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