The 30-year-old lock, who played a key role in Wasps dramatic European Cup final victory over Toulouse at Twickenham, was nominated alongside Gloucester centre Henry Paul and Bath second-row Steve Borthwick.

Bath fly-half Olly Barkley took the young player honours, completing a quickfire double following his success at last weeks Professional Rugby Players Association awards ceremony.

And Northampton full-back Bruce Reihana, scorer of 13 Premiership tries this season, won the overseas player award, again completing a Premiership/PRA double after being named players player of the year.

Bath boss John Connolly was named rugby director of the year, with Gloucester lock Alex Brown winning Premiership try of the season following his touchdown against Leicester in early January.

The outstanding contribution award for services to rugby, only previously awarded to Jason Leonard, was won by Englands triumphant World Cup captain Martin Johnson.

Shaw missed out on selection for Englands original World Cup squad last autumn, but he put that crushing disappointment behind him to turn in a succession of outstanding club displays.

His strength and power in a juggernaut Wasps pack proved crucial as they marched towards a Premiership final place at Twickenham.

And he is likely to command a Test team starting place when England tour New Zealand and Australia.

Barkley, meanwhile, proved the catalyst behind Baths rise up the Premiership table from relegation candidates last term to championship contenders 12 months on.

And he finished the RBS 6 Nations Championship as Englands No 10, producing assured displays against both Wales and France.

Australian Connolly has masterminded Baths revival, and if they beat Wasps, it will be their first domestic title since a league and cup double-winning campaign of 1996.