Bowe Voted Irish Players’ Player Of The Year
Ireland winger Tommy Bowe has been voted the Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year by his fellow players as the eighth annual Irish Rugby Union Players’ Association Awards.
This is the second time that Tommy Bowe has been honoured with the top IRUPA Awards accolade having also won it in 2008.
Accepting the award, the Ospreys clubman said: “This is the second time I’ve received this Players’ Player award and I’m absolutely thrilled, it’s great to be recognised by the other players especially when you’re playing overseas.”
Bowe enjoyed a memorable first Lions tour in South Africa last summer – starting all three Tests – and began the 2009/10 international season with a try in Ireland’s 20-20 draw with Australia at Croke Park.
The 26-year-old was ever present on the right wing for Ireland during the recent RBS 6 Nations, scoring tries against England (2) and Ireland. He was named RBS Player of the Championship for his exploits in the green jersey.
Bowe has continued to impress with the Ospreys this season, helping the Welsh side reach the Heineken Cup quarter-finals and qualify for this weekend’s Magners League semi-finals.
In addition, he has taken his Magners League try-scoring record to 38 tries and is the top try scorer in this season’s Heineken Cup (7 tries in seven games).
Connacht winger Fionn Carr was also among those recognised when he was announced as the IRUPA Nature Valley Young Player of the Year.
Carr starred for the westerners this term, scoring 14 tries in 23 Magners League and Amlin Challenge Cup games. The 24-year-old, named the Connacht Player of the Year last weekend, also lined out for Ireland ‘A’ against England Saxons in January.
Andrew Trimble of Ulster picked up the IRUPA Volkswagen Try of the Year for his stunning solo try against Bath in the Heineken Cup and Leinster’s John Fogarty was a very worthy winner of the IRUPA Nokia Unsung Hero award.
Joining Ireland’s heroes in the Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Hall of Fame was Leinster legend Girvan Dempsey, who is set to retire from rugby at the end of the current season.
Dempsey’s Leinster team-mate Jamie Heaslip was selected as the Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Supporters’ Player of the Year, voted for by listeners of Newstalk106-108FM.
Niall Woods, CEO of IRUPA, said: “Winning an IRUPA award is the highest honour a player can receive. The winners can take great pride in knowing that they have the total respect of those who they play with and against.
“Congratulations to all those nominated and in particular to Tommy, Andrew, Fionn, John, Jamie and Girv in winning what are the most sought after awards in Irish rugby.”
2010 BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRUPA AWARD WINNERS:
BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRUPA PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR –
Winner: Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
Nominations:
Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
Keith Earls (Munster)
Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)
IRUPA NOKIA UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR –
Winner: John Fogarty (Leinster)
Nominations:
John Fogarty (Leinster)
Chris Henry (Ulster)
Michael Swift (Connacht)
IRUPA NATURE VALLEY YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR –
Winner: Fionn Carr (Connacht)
Nominations:
Fionn Carr (Connacht)
Scott Deasy (Munster)
Keith Earls (Munster)
BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRUPA HALL OF FAME –
Inducted: Girvan Dempsey (Leinster)
IRUPA VOLKSWAGEN TRY OF YEAR –
Winner: Andrew Trimble (Bath v Ulster, Heineken Cup)
Nominations:
Fionn Carr (Leinster v Connacht, Magners League)
Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster v Brive, Heineken Cup)
Andrew Trimble (Bath v Ulster, Heineken Cup)
SUPPORTERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR (VOTED FOR BY LISTENERS OF NEWSTALK106-108FM) –
Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)
Related Links –
Dempsey Joins IRUPA Hall Of Fame
O’Driscoll Chosen As IRUPA Players’ Player Of The Year
Bowe Named Irish Players’ Player Of The Year