Sale Sharks flanker Tom Curry and Toulouse back Cheslin Kolbe, who face off in the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday, have been chosen in a six-strong shortlist, along with Ospreys lock Alun Wyn Jones and Worcester Warriors hooker Joe Taufete’e.

England’s Curry played five matches in the Champions Cup in 2016/17 and added a further seven appearances in the Challenge Cup last season as Sale reached the semi-finals before a 24-20 defeat to La Rochelle.

South African Kolbe had an explosive 2018/19 season for Toulouse, scoring tries against Wasps and Leinster Rugby as the French club also made the last four prior to a 30-12 defeat by Leinster.

Wales captain Jones, who is 34 and his country’s record cap-holder with 134 Tests, has been a stalwart for Ospreys since 2006, playing 61 European games for the Welsh region and scoring seven tries.

American Taufeteʻe, who has become the most prolific Test try-scorer in front-row history with 18 in just 21, has notched three in eight Challenge Cup ties for Worcester.

The trophy will be presented at the World Rugby Awards in Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday.

Four players from the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup have been nominated for the World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year 2019 after stellar European and International campaigns in the last year.