England star Jonny Wilkinson was last night named players' player of the year at a glittering awards ceremony in central London.

The Newcastle fly-half emerged victorious from a short-list that also featured Gloucester flanker Jake Boer - this season's Zurich Premiership player of the season - Saracens' England back-row Richard Hill, Sale Sharks skipper Bryan Redpath and Northampton forward Andrew Blowers.

More than 400 players voted, with former Hampshire Schools star Wilkinson taking the top award.

Gloucester back-row prospect James Forrester was named young player of the year while other award winners included his club colleague Ludovic Mercier, Jason Robinson and Jason Leonard. "It is a great honour to be voted as the players' player of the year by my peers, especially given the high standard of rugby played in the Zurich Premiership at the moment," Wilkinson said. "This is a very special award, and I would like to dedicate it to the team and coaches at Newcastle Falcons for all their help over the season."

Forrester triumphed above Gloucester teammates Marcel Garvey and James Simpson-Daniel, plus Sale forward Chris Jones and Leicester centre Ollie Smith.

"This has been a magnificent season for everyone at the club, and I am delighted to receive this honour from my fellow players," Forrester said.

"I look forward to continued success at Kingsholm in the coming season."

Awards: PRA Computacenter players' player of the year - Jonny Wilkinson; PRA Land Rover young player of the year - James Forrester; PRA Canterbury golden boot award - Ludovic Mercier; Blyth Spirit award (sponsored by Rugby World) - Jarrod Cunningham; Daily Telegraph readers' try of the year 2003 - Jason Robinson; PRA Gerrard hall of fame inductions - Peter Wheeler, Gerald Davies, Tim Horan; Premier Rugby outstanding contribution - Jason Leonard.

PRA Kingston Smith dream team: Jason Robinson (Sale); Mark Cueto (Sale), Will Greenwood (Harlequins), Graeme Bond (Sale), Ben Cohen (Northampton); Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle), Bryan Redpath (Sale); Trevor Woodman (Gloucester), Steve Thompson (Northampton), Phil Vickery (Gloucester), Martin Johnson (Leicester), Chris Jones (Sale), Richard Hill (Saracens), Andrew Blowers (Northampton), James Forrester (Gloucester).