Wing Louis Rees-Zammit and No 8 Taulupe Faletau are among the six players in contention for the coveted prize after both had outstanding tournaments.
Wales won five of their six Championship games and only just missed out on a Grand Slam following a last-gasp 32-20 defeat by France.
The team still finished top of the pile and while the title success was very much a team effort, it is Rees-Zammit and Faletau who are in the running for individual accolades.
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— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 28, 2021
At just 20 years old, Rees-Zammit only made his Wales debut in a friendly against France in October 2020, but he has progressed quickly to become a Test rugby try-scorer.
His first Six Nations finished with four tries, a player of the round award, and a Six Nations title as the Gloucester back had a tournament to remember.
Rees-Zammit’s stunning finish against Ireland was crucial to Wales’ win in round one. He then scored two more in the win over Scotland in round two.
His stunning second try in Edinburgh sealed a Welsh win by the narrowest of margins. He was a Welsh mainstay throughout the tournament and also scored in Italy.
Bath No 8 and two-time British & Irish Lion Faletau has far more experience at international level than Rees-Zammit, but he too has been on fire in 2021.
Faletau has now won three Six Nations titles including a Grand Slam in 2012 and is playing some of the best rugby of his career.
Taulupe Faletau as player of the match against England
He put in 19 tackles in a superb defensive effort against Scotland and was player of the match following a supreme display against England in round three.
Faletau scored a try against Italy too and was a pivotal figure for Pivac’s side throughout the 2021 Guinness Six Nations.
Faletau ended the Six Nations with 66 carries (third on the list) and 77 successful tackles (again third on the list)
The other players joining Rees-Zammit and Faletau on the player of the tournament shortlist are Ireland pair Robbie Henshaw and Tadhg Beirne, France scrum-half Antoine Dupont, and Scotland flanker Hamish Watson.
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