Vote for Sanjay!

The LV= Breakthrough Player Award, a new award for this season's LV= Cup, is designed to recognise a young player who has stood out in the 2011-12 competition.

Following a week of tough deliberating between panel members Martin Bayfield (ITV), Gywn Jones (S4C), Ieuan Evans (Sky) and Gavin Mairs (Telegraph), the final six - who were whittled down from a list of 20 hopefuls - includes four English and two Welsh representatives.

The only player on the inaugural shortlist to have been selected in his country's RBS 6 Nations training squad, Scarlets' Liam Williams has operated at both full-back and wing for the region. Williams is one of the two Welsh representatives alongside the Ospreys' Matthew Morgan.

Williams' rise to fame has been rapid after having an opportunity to feature regularly for the region during the Rugby World Cup. After some spectacular early performances for the Scarlets, Williams received a call-up to Wales' squad to face Australia.

Williams said: "With the World Cup in full swing, and a number of the Scarlets' backs away on international duty I had a couple of opportunities to play in the league and the LV= Cup. To be honest, I was just really grateful to have that time on the field with the team and didn't think I'd have as many opportunities as I have."

Scarlets Skills Coach Mark Jones said: "It's great to see exciting new talent like Liam Williams taking their opportunities so well at regional level and credit to him as a player and person that he has shown the commitment and drive to work hard for the Scarlets shirt this season.

"He's a brave player and is really committed on the field and he's shown his ability for us this season both on the wing and at full-back and it's great that he's having the experience of the national squad set-up as well now after such a short time with us in the Scarlets senior squad.

"As a individual he deserves the credit he's getting from awards like this one - he knows he's got a lot to learn still but goes about his work with a very professional head and gets stuck into training and wants to learn and improve. He has a great attitude and spirit, like all our younger players have at the Scarlets and they really energise and push the whole squad forward - and the fact we have a lot of competition now in this group really gets the best out of our players when we're in training and preparing for games."

Scarlets centre Adam Warren, from Burry Port, was also named on the initial list of 20 hopefuls after some strong performances for the region in the league and the LV= Cup.

The winner of the LV=Cup Breakthrough Player Award is now in the hands of supporters, who can make their choice by visiting www.lv.co.uk/rugby. The player with the highest number of nominations will receive a Tag Heuer watch plus £1,000 donated to a local grassroots club of their choice and of course, the inaugural LV= Cup Breakthrough Player trophy.

The winner of the award, which is designed to recognise a young player who has stood out in the 2011-12 competition, will be announced on Tuesday 13^th March. Voting will close at midnight on Sunday 11^th March.

LV= Breakthrough Player shortlist

George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Liam Williams (Scarlets)
Matthew Morgan (Ospreys)
Matt Kvesic (Worcester Warriors)