Set to be hosted by former players Barry Murphy and Andrew Trimble, the Rugby Players Ireland Awards celebrates the on and off the field achievements of Rugby Players Ireland’s members and will take place on May 17th at The Clayton Hotel on the Burlington Road in Ballsbridge.
Grand Slam winners Doris, Hansen and Keenan are nominated for the second year in succession with Dan Sheehan a new addition to this year’s nominees at the expense of last year’s winner and World Rugby Player of the Year, Josh van der Flier. A central feature of the success both his club and country have enjoyed this season, Sheehan is also nominated for the Nevin Spence Men’s Young Player of the Year with Jack Crowley and Tom Stewart.
A nominee for the Six Nations Player of the Championship alongside Hansen and Keenan, Caelan Doris has enjoyed a superb campaign and can be credited with kick-starting Ireland’s Grand Slam voyage with his try after two minutes against Wales. Meanwhile, Hugo Keenan continued his extraordinary run of form with a number of vital contributions, not least his effort against France which is a contender for the MSL Mercedes-Benz Dealerships’ Men’s Try of the Year. A firm fan favourite, Mack Hansen completes the shortlist having earned numerous Guinness Six Nations Player of the Match awards.
It has been a challenging campaign for an inexperienced Irish Women’s XVs, however several players led from the front in the face of adversity. In addition to earning great respect from a growing fanbase, Bank of Ireland’s Women’s XVs Players’ Player of the Year nominees Neve Jones, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird and captain Nichola Fryday have been acknowledged by their peers for the role they played on and off the field in navigating a difficult few weeks.
This year will also see one of Natajsa Behan, Aoife Dalton or Sadhbh McGrath named as the izest Marketing Women’s XVs Young Player of the Year. Behan is joined by Fryday and Aoife Doyle as a nominee for the AIB Corporate Banking Women’s XVs Try of the Year for her effort against Japan in the first Test of an historic summer series for the side.
While the race for the Olympics remains in the balance, it has been a hugely positive year for the Irish Sevens programme. The men’s team claimed bronze at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in South Africa with Lucy Mulhall’s side a regular feature at the latter stages of the World Series circuit. Mulhall, a two-time winner of the Triton Lake Women’s 7s Player of the Year is joined by Emily Lane and Béibhinn Parsons in the shortlist. Jack Kelly, Harry McNulty and Andrew Smith will contest the Triton Lake Men’s 7s Player of the Year.
The night will also see the Zurich Irish Contribution to Society Award presented to the individual who has been a valued member of their community.
MEN’S XVs PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2023
Caelan Doris
Mack Hansen
Hugo Keenan
Dan Sheehan
WOMEN’S XVs PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2023
Nichola Fryday
Neve Jones
Deirbhile Nic a Bháird
MEN’S XVs YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2023
Jack Crowley
Dan Sheehan
Tom Stewart
WOMEN’s XVs YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2023
Nastaja Behan
Aoife Dalton
Sadhbh McGrath
MEN’S XVs TRY OF THE YEAR 2023
Shane Daly Munster v South Africa Select XV
Mack Hansen Ireland v South Africa, Autumn Nations Cup
Hugo Keenan Ireland v France, Guinness Six Nations
WOMEN’S XVs TRY OF THE YEAR 2023
Natasja Behan Ireland v Japan, Test Series
Aoife Doyle Ireland v Japan, Test Series
Nichola Fryday Ireland v Scotland, TikTok Six Nations
MEN’S 7s PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2023
Jack Kelly
Harry McNulty
Andrew Smith
WOMEN’S 7s PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2023
Emily Lane
Lucy Mulhall
Béibhinn Parsons
