Aki And Wafer Win Player Of The Year

May 23, 2024
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Ultimate Rugby

Bundee Aki and Aoife Wafer were voted the Players’ Players of the Year at the annual Rugby Player Ireland Awards ceremony in Dublin tonight.

Following a fine campaign, Connacht and Ireland centre Aki was honoured as the BDO Ireland Men’s 15s Players’ Players of the Year by his fellow players at the event, which was held at the Clayton Hotel on the Burlington Road.

Nominated for both the World Rugby Player of the Year and Six Nations Player of the Championship awards, Aki was always going be strong contender for the national award despite the presence of Jamison Gibson-Park and Dan Sheehan on the shortlist.

A fan favourite, the 34-year-old powerhouse hit new heights this season in the Ireland midfield, helping the team to win their second Guinness Men’s Six Nations title in as many years.

On receiving his award, Aki commented: “I’m honoured to be recognised by my fellow Rugby Players Ireland members as their Player of the Year. It has been bittersweet but when I look back on the season, I won’t think about the results or awards.

“Instead, I’ll look back with pride at being part of such a resilient group, and the way we bounced back after the disappointment of the Rugby World Cup.

“Individual awards are fantastic, but this one would not have been possible without Jamison, Dan, or any of my Irish or Connacht team-mates for pushing me along.”

Meanwhile, exciting back rower Wafer won on the double as she claimed both the Strata Financial Women’s 15s Players’ Player of the Year and Energia Women’s 15s Young Player of the Year awards.

Having returned to international action following a lengthy injury lay-off, the Wexford woman was keen to make up for lost time in the green jersey.

Despite being just 21 years of age, Wafer emerged as a real leader within the group as the Ireland Women secured Rugby World Cup qualification and a place in WXV1. Her outstanding performances in the back row also saw her nominated for the Six Nations Player of the Championship gong.

Speaking as she received the senior award, Wafer said:

The past few months have been the highlight of my career to date. I find it hard to believe given where I was not very long ago. While I was happy with the way I played on a personal level, I really fed off the energy of the wider squad.

“We are an extremely close group. We back each other on the good days, and especially on the bad. I feel we have turned a big page in our journey this year, and I look forward to seeing where we can go together as a team.”

Many of the biggest names in Irish Rugby attended tonight’s ceremony, which was hosted by former Ireland internationals Barry Murphy and Andrew Trimble, as a successful season on many fronts, both on and off the field, was celebrated.

Following his retirement, Keith Earls was honoured with the Zurich Contribution to Irish Society award, while Rugby Players Ireland Chairperson Peter O’Mahony presented one of his predecessors in the role, Jonathan Sexton, with a portrait piece on behalf of the Players Asssociation’s membership.

There were there strong contenders in the mix for the Mercedes-Benz Ballsbridge Men’s 15s Try of the Year, and it was Craig Casey’s excellent effort for Munster against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium which prevailed.

Leinster claimed one back over their provincial rivals with Joe McCarthy named as the Nevin Spence Men’s 15s Young Player of the Year ahead of Tom Ahern and last year’s winner, Jack Crowley.

Further accolades were presented to Zac Ward, who was acknowledged as the TritonLake Men’s Sevens Players’ Player of the Year, with Megan Burns the TritonLake Women’s Sevens Players’ Player of the Year.

Teenage winger Katie Corrigan scooped the AIB Corporate Banking Women’s 15s Try of the Year award, while the Ireland Men’s Six Nations title-winning campaign was recognised as the Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort Moment of the Year.

Reflecting on the night, Rugby Players Ireland Chairperson O’Mahony said: “As always, it’s a huge honour to come together and look back on what has been another successful campaign for Irish Rugby.

“While many thought it would be one of transition, I have found that even as players have moved on, we always seem to have somebody ready to step up thanks to the empowering support of the likes of Rugby Players Ireland who continue to equip our players with the skills to thrive both on and off the field.”

Rugby Players Ireland CEO Simon Keogh added: “A Rugby Players Ireland award represents the highest individual accolade in the game.

“To be recognised by your team-mates and opponents in this way is the ultimate show of respect. My congratulations to Bundee, Aoife, Zac, Megan, and all of our winners tonight. Our game is in a good place.”