Nominees Announced For Rugby Players Ireland Awards

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 next Wednesday (May 17) at the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road in Ballsbridge.

Grand Slam winners Doris, Hansen and Keenan are nominated for the second year in succession, with Sheehan a new addition to this year’s nominees at the expense of last year’s winner and reigning World Rugby Player of the Year, Josh van der Flier.

A central feature of the success both his province and country have enjoyed this season, Sheehan is also nominated for the Nevin Spence Men’s Young Player of the Year award, along with Jack Crowley and Tom Stewart.

A nominee for the Six Nations Player of the Championship alongside Hansen and Keenan, Doris has enjoyed a superb campaign and can be credited with kickstarting Ireland’s route to Grand Slam glory with his try after two minutes against Wales.

Meanwhile, 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, Hansen completes the shortlist having earned numerous Guinness Six Nations player-of-the-match awards.

It has been a challenging campaign for an inexperienced Ireland Women’s 15s team, 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 15s 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 Natasja Behan, Aoife Dalton or Sadhbh McGrath named as the izest Marketing Women’s 15s Young Player of the Year.

Behan is joined by Fryday and Aoife Doyle on the nominations list for the AIB Corporate Banking Women’s 15s Try of the Year for her score against Japan in the first Test of an historic summer series.

While the race for the Olympics remains in the balance, it has been a hugely positive year for the IRFU Sevens programmes.

The Ireland Men’s Sevens team claimed bronze at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in South Africa, with Lucy Mulhall’s Women’s side a regular feature at the latter stages of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series circuit.

Mulhall, a two-time winner of the Triton Lake Women’s Sevens Player of the Year, is joined by Emily Lane and Béibhinn Parsons on the shortlist. Jack Kelly, captain Harry McNulty and Andrew Smith will contest the Triton Lake Men’s Sevens Player of the Year honour.

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.

Members of the public are also invited to partake in the selection of the Druids Glen Moment of the Year using #DruidsMoment23. Follow Rugby Players Ireland on Twitter (@RugbyPlayersIRE) and Instagram (@rugbyplayersireland) for more.

Commenting on the announcement, Rugby Players Ireland Chairperson Peter O’Mahony said: “The past year has demonstrated that while Irish Rugby is in a good place, there is still plenty of work to be done to ensure that we are fighting on all fronts.

“To get to where we want to go, we can never stand still. Nevertheless, it’s important that before we move on to new goals and ambitions we must recognise the achievement of our players who reach the pinnacle of their game.

“I wish to congratulate all nominees and their team-mates on their efforts this season.”

Simon Keogh, CEO of Rugby Players Ireland, added: “My congratulations to all who have been nominated this year.

“This recognition is a testament to their hard work, dedication and talent, both on and off the field and the highest tribute their peers can pay. We are proud to represent such exceptional people.”

2023 RUGBY PLAYERS IRELAND AWARDS – NOMINATIONS LIST:

BANK OF IRELAND MEN’S 15s PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Caelan Doris (Leinster)
Mack Hansen (Connacht)
Hugo Keenan (Leinster)
Dan Sheehan (Leinster)

BANK OF IRELAND WOMEN’S 15s PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Nichola Fryday (Exeter Chiefs)
Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury)
Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere)

NEVIN SPENCE MEN’S 15s YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jack Crowley (Munster)
Dan Sheehan (Leinster)
Tom Stewart (Ulster)

IZEST MARKETING WOMEN’S 15s YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Natasja Behan (Blackrock College)
Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere)
Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke)

MSL MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIPS’ MEN’S 15s TRY OF THE YEAR

Shane Daly – Munster v South Africa ‘A’
Mack Hansen – Ireland v South Africa, Autumn Nations Series
Hugo Keenan – Ireland v France, Guinness Six Nations

AIB CORPORATE BANKING WOMEN’S 15s TRY OF THE YEAR

Natasja Behan – Ireland v Japan, Summer Series
Aoife Doyle – Ireland v Japan, Summer Series
Nichola Fryday – Ireland v Scotland, TikTok Six Nations

TRITONLAKE MEN’S SEVENs PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jack Kelly
Harry McNulty
Andrew Smith

TRITONLAKE WOMEN’S SEVENs PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Emily Lane
Lucy Mulhall
Béibhinn Parsons