Former Ulster centre Stuart Olding has been named Player of the Season at French side Brive after their promotion to the Top 14 at the weekend.

Olding, 27, quickly became a fan favourite at the club after joining them in May 2018 - in the wake of his Ulster contract being revoked after he was acquitted of rape - and was a vital part of their efforts to return to the top tier of French rugby after a one-year absence.

Switching between fly-half, centre and full-back, Olding made 23 appearances during the season for Brive, scoring four tries and kicking eight conversions and 11 penalties.

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His efforts helped them to finish top of the Pro D2 table and, although they lost the play-off final to Bayonne, they still gained promotion thanks to a victory over Grenoble in a promotion/relegation play-off last Sunday.

Stuart Olding a Ã©tÃ© Ã©lu meilleur joueur de la saison 2018/2019 avec Minitaux !

Il a reÃ§u son trophÃ©e des mains de Xavier Ric, Directeur GÃ©nÃ©ral du CAB aprÃ¨s la victoire contre Grenoble avec les supporters. #WEARECAB pic.twitter.com/zay44O9YC0 — CABCLRUGBY (@CABCLRUGBY) June 4, 2019

Olding has already pledged his future to the club having signed a contract extension back in October and will be key in the Top 14 next season.

Belfast Telegraph