Best, Gilroy And Cave Among The Ulster Award Winners

Rory Best was given the accolade following a season in which he resumed the Ulster captaincy, won his third RBS 6 Nations Championship and led Ulster to the PRO12 play-offs.

The citation read: “Rory epitomises the connection between the players on the pitch and the supporters in the stand. He leads the team by example and through his own dedication and relentless commitment, inspires others.”

The event took place at the Culloden Estate and Spa in Holywood, with 13 awards presented to recipients across schools, club and professional rugby in the province.

Craig Gilroy was a double winner as the flying winger was named both the Bank of Ireland Ulster Player of the Year and the Ulster Rugby Writers’ Player of the Year.

Gilroy is the PRO12’s leading try scorer with 11 tries in the competition so far, including memorable scores against Scarlets and Leinster. He made his 100th appearance for Ulster against Benetton Treviso at just 23, becoming the youngest player to reach the milestone for the province.

Darren Cave was presented with the Ulster Rugby Supporters Club’s Outstanding Player of the Season Award by rugby legend Willie John McBride.

Stuart McCloskey won the BT Young Player of the Year award, while Ireland Under-20 centre Sam Arnold (pictured above) picked up the Hughes Insurance Academy Player of the Year award.

Ballynahinch RFC was named the Kukri Club of the Year for the third year in a row, while Oisin Quinn from Randalstown RFC was given the Referee of the Year award.

Lauren Maginnes of Queen’s University and Ulster was selected as the Errigle Inn Women’s Player of the Year and back rower Paul Pritchard capped a good night for Ballynahinch RFC by winning the Ken Goodall award for Outstanding Club Player of the Year.

Tom Christie of Armoy RFC took home the Dorrington B Faulkner award for services to rugby following a remarkable playing career that spanned 40 seasons and which saw him score a try for the club in each of those seasons.

Robert Lyttle of Methodist College Belfast was selected as the Danske Bank Schools’ Player of the Year, while Aaron Hall of Ballyclare High School and the Ulster Youth team won the first award of the night – the Ulster Carpets Youth Player of the Year.

2014/15 HEINEKEN ULSTER RUGBY AWARDS – WINNERS’ LIST:

Heineken Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: Rory Best
Bank of Ireland Ulster Player of the Year: Craig Gilroy
BT Young Player of the Year: Stuart McCloskey
Rugby Writers’ Player of the Year: Craig Gilroy
URSC Outstanding Player of the Season: Darren Cave
Hughes Insurance Ulster Academy Player of the Year: Sam Arnold
Kukri Sports Club of the Year: Ballynahinch RFC
Referee of the Year: Oisin Quinn
The Errigle Inn Ulster Women’s Player of the Year: Lauren Maginnes
Ken Goodall Club Player of the Year: Paul Pritchard, Ballynahinch RFC
Dorrington B Faulkner Award: Thomas Christie, Armoy RFC
Danske Bank Schools’ Player of the Year: Robert Lyttle, MCB
Ulster Carpets Youth Player of the Year: Aaron Hall, Ballyclare High School