IRUPA Player Of The Year Nominees Announced

Ten awards will be given out at the ceremony, culminating in Irish rugby’s ultimate accolade being presented – the Zurich IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year award.

For the first time ever the four shortlisted nominees of the main award consist of one from each province – Rory Best (Ulster), Robbie Henshaw (Connacht), Jack McGrath (Leinster) and CJ Stander (Munster). 

Voted on by their fellow professional team-mates, the four finalists have been selected based on consistent form across the GUINNESS PRO12, European Champions Cup, European Challenge Cup, Rugby World Cup and the RBS 6 Nations.
 
The Nevin Spence Young Player of the Year winner – an award which Henshaw has won for the last three years – will also be announced.

This year it is contested by a host of talented young players who have stormed onto the scene. Leinster have two representatives in Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier, while Ulster’s blockbusting centre Stuart McCloskey rounds out the trio.

The three players have had breakthrough seasons for their provinces with the latter two making their debuts for Ireland in the RBS 6 Nations.
 
Amongst the other prestigious awards, this year’s BNY Mellon Hall of Fame induction on the night, with the recipient to be announced in due course.
 
Other awards presented on the evening include: the Volkswagen Try of the Year, the Irish Times Supporters’ Player of the Year, the Zurich Contribution to Irish Society award, the BNY Mellon Women’s XVs Player of the Year, the IRUPA Women’s 7s Player of the Year, the Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa Moment of the Year and The Vodafone Medal for Excellence.
 
Commenting on the awards night was former IRUPA Board Member and Player of the Year 2015, Paul O’Connell, said: “To be nominated for an IRUPA award is such a fantastic achievement, it really is a great honour to be recognised by your fellow players.  I would like to congratulate all the nominees, wish them the best and hope they enjoy the night.”
 
Conor Brennan, CEO of Zurich Insurance plc Ireland, added: “The Zurich Irish Rugby Players’ Awards is a great way to recognise the achievements and ongoing contributions of Irish rugby players to both the sporting landscape and wider community. We are proud to support some of Ireland’s sporting role models, and look forward to the event.”

For awards updates, follow @IRUPA on Twitter or use the hashtag: #RugbyAwards16. For more information on IRUPA, please visit www.irupa.ie.

2016 ZURICH IRISH RUGBY PLAYERS’ AWARDS – NOMINATIONS:

ZURICH IRUPA PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR –

Robbie Henshaw (Connacht)
CJ Stander (Munster)
Jack McGrath (Leinster)
Rory Best (Ulster)
 
NEVIN SPENCE YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR –

Josh van der Flier (Leinster)
Stuart McCloskey (Ulster)
Garry Ringrose (Leinster)
 
BNY MELLON IRUPA HALL OF FAME –

Recipient to be announced the week of April 25

VOLKSWAGEN TRY OF YEAR –

Craig Gilroy – Ulster v Scarlets, GUINNESS PRO12
Jamie Heaslip – Ireland v Italy, RBS 6 Nations
Matt Healy – Connacht v Grenoble, European Challenge Cup
 
IRISH TIMES SUPPORTERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR –

Robbie Henshaw (Connacht)
Jack McGrath (Leinster)
Rory Best (Ulster)
Conor Murray (Munster)
Jonathon Sexton (Leinster)
CJ Stander (Munster)
Jared Payne (Ulster)
Matt Healy (Connacht)
 
ZURICH CONTRIBUTION TO IRISH SOCIETY –

The award will be presented at the ceremony on Wednesday, May 4
 
BNY MELLON WOMEN’S XVs PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016 –

Sene Naoupu (Connacht)
Paula Fitzpatrick (Toulouse)
Ciara Griffin (Munster)
 
POWERSCOURT HOTEL MOMENT OF THE YEAR –

Voted by the public on Twitter @PowerscourtHtl #PHMoment16 – the Rugby Moment of the Year will be unveiled at the Awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 4
 
VODAFONE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE –

Isaac Boss (Leinster)
Ronan Loughney (Connacht)
John Muldoon (Connacht)
 
IRUPA WOMEN’S SEVENS PLAYER OF THE YEAR –

Amee-Leigh Crowe (Munster)
Ashleigh Baxter (Ulster)
Audrey O’Flynn (Talent ID Programme)