The full-back joined the list of three-time tournament winners as he helped his club to its third European title in four seasons with victory over Leinster Rugby in the Heineken Champions Cup final in front of a capacity crowd at Newcastle’s St James’ Park, where he was presented with the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy. It completed a perfect campaign for the Gallagher Premiership club, who recorded a clean sweep of wins from their nine matches in the tournament.

The outcome was determined by a combination of a public vote and the verdict of a panel of distinguished rugby experts. Goode saw off opposition from club colleague Mako Vunipola and he becomes the third Saracens player to win the prestigious accolade after Maro Itoje (2016) and Owen Farrell (2017). Leinster Rugby trio Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong and Garry Ringrose were the other shortlisted nominees.

Panel member Dimitri Yachvili said: “Alex Goode certainly deserves the EPCR European Player of the Year. He has played every game this season with Saracens and put in a fantastic final performance. Despite the arrival of Liam Williams, he has kept his position at full-back as well as being flexible in various positions, which is testament to the quality of the player. Goode is the true X-factor at Saracens – very comfortable technically and is truly versatile, he really can make a game-changing difference.”