Nacewa Crowned Leinster Player Of The Month

Isa Nacewa has been announced as the Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Player of the Month for December and January.

The versatile back, who features in one of Bank of Ireland’s new Leinster Rugby adverts, was delighted to accept the award from Frank McDonagh, Branch Manager of Bank of Ireland Ballsbridge.

Having recently celebrated his marriage to Simone back home in Auckland, Nacewa said that he was delighted to receive the award.

“It was my first time back home in New Zealand since signing for Leinster, so it was nice to celebrate my wedding to my beautiful wife Simone,” he said.

“My sister got married the week before me in Queenstown, so it was good to get down there to relax before my wedding, but I don’t think it was that good an idea in hindsight because it made the nerves shoot up tenfold!

“It’s awesome having the support of Bank of Ireland and the Leinster community around me, so I’m delighted to receive this award.

“It gives you a boost ahead of the coming weeks to back up the performances and try to aim for that award again.”

Looking forward to Saturday’s Magners League clash with the Scarlets, Nacewa added: “It’s majorly important game for us, not to get back on track this weekend, but to carry on from where we left off.

“It has been a good couple of weeks (in terms of) resting up and getting the bodies right, but it’s now back to business in our home ground at the RDS.

“At this time of the year, the depth and quality of the squad really comes out. In games like these the guys will come out and look to make their mark and create some more competition within the squad.

“Even though we have played each other three times already this year there’s no risk of our side underestimating the Scarlets.

“With guys like (Daniel) Evans in the midfield and David Lyons at number 8, they have big, strong ball carriers that once they get their offload game going it’s hard to stop.”

Nacewa, who has played in 13 of Leinster’s games this season, was nominated for his performance in the four Heineken Cup games which took place in December 2009 and January 2010 and, perhaps most notably, for securing Leinster’s only try in the most recent game against London Irish.

Bank of Ireland would like to congratulate him and to thank all the Leinster supporters who voted for the award.