Delon Armitage, left out of the Lions tour to South Africa, and brother Steffon have both been nominated in this year's Professional Rugby Players' Association awards.

The London Irish duo, who made their England debuts this season, feature on shortlists published today ahead of the 13 May awards ceremony.

Delon discovered on Tuesday he had not made the cut for the Lions summer tour but that has been a rare disappointment this term for the full-back, who shone for England during the autumn Tests and Six Nations, when he scored tries in three consecutive games.

The 25-year-old is among five nominees for the players' player-of-the-year prize while Steffon is in the running for the young player-of-the-year award.

Delon said: “It's a tremendous honour to be nominated by my peers and for Steffon and I both to be nominated is a fabulous surprise and a proud moment for our family. This has been a remarkable season for me, which will hopefully continue beyond this weekend, and to be nominated alongside the outstanding names on this list is a privilege I am both proud and humble to receive.”

His rivals for the prize are club colleague Seilala Mapusua, Northampton's Ben Foden, Newcastle No10 Tom May and Sale back-row forward Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe. Mapusua has proved a key figure in the Exiles back division this term, while Foden has shone at full-back and scrum-half. May earned plaudits after stepping in impressively at fly-half following Jonny Wilkinson's latest injury.

Argentina international Lobbe is one of the Premiership's unsung heroes, producing consistently high-class displays for Sale.
In the young-player category Steffon has been nominated alongside Foden, Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care, Leicester flanker Tom Croft — the shock Lions squad omission — and Quins centre Jordan Turner-Hall.

The 23-year-old flanker said: “This season has been better than I dared to dream and to be recognised by our fellow players for these awards is a huge honour. We are hoping to finish the club season strongly for London Irish and to receive these nominations is a great boost for us.”

There could be more success for the Armitage brothers this season if the Exiles seal a place in the play-offs by beating Worcester on Saturday. The club's chances of doing that have been boosted by captain Bob Casey being cleared to play after making a quick recovery from an operation on his bicep.

Meanwhile, France's most capped player, Fabien Pelous, will retire at the end of the season. The 35-year-old Stade Toulouse lock, who played 118 Tests, said: “It is wise to know when it is time to go. It is the right time.”