CIAN HEALY, NICK Williams and Simon Zebo have all been nominated for this year’s Hibernia College IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year award.
The trio have been shortlisted owing to their exceptional performances for their provinces and at international level over the past 12 months.
Also up for grabs during the ceremony, which takes place on May 8 at the Burlington Hotel, is the Nevin Spence Young Player of the Year, with Connacht’s Rob Henshaw, Leinster’s Ian Madigan and Luke Marshall of Ulster all nominated.
In addition, the Volkswagen Try of the Year has recognised Craig Gilroy’s try against Argentina in the Autumn International Series, Ian Henderson’s effort against Saracens in Ulster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final and Simon Zebo’s try against Wales in the Six Nations.
And there is also the O2 Unsung Hero Award, which includes Ulster’s Nigel Brady, Munster’s Billy Holland and Michael Swift of Connacht, and the Hibernia College Medal for Excellence, featuring Leinster’s Isaac Boss, Ulster’s Chris Henry and Munster’s Marcus Horan
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In addition, there are two other awards whose winners will be announced on the night – the BNY Mellon IRUPA Hall of Fame award and the Newstalk Supporters’ Player of the Year award.
So who do you think deserves to win the main award?
To be fair, as much as I rate Tommy, he’s barely played all year. Nick Williams doesnt look anything like the lump Munster released a few years back. Glad to see he has gotten his house in order has had a brilliant season. Is it my imagination or has Healy found another scrummaging gear this season? Any of them for me.. but I need to make an honourable mention to Donncha Ryan… has been a collosus for Munster and Ireland all season while carrying an injury.
Nick Williams for me has been the best performer out of the three in domestic competitions, SOB was Ireland’s best player during the 6n IMO so I’m surprised he’s omitted. Zebo has been electric and deserves plenty of praise but missed a lot of short the international window. Healy has been excellent all season and played a lot of rugby but there was the stamping incident so I think there’s arguments for them all to win! I think that the lack of a clear winner along with reasons for each player to not win the award is in line with this seasons trend of being a thoroughly underwhelming one for Irish rugby. It’s a pity there is no stand out player who we could say has been one of European rugby’s best players this season. Hopefully all that can end tho with Munster making it to and maybe winning another final in the h-cup, Leinster winning the amlin, ulster playing Leinster in the rabo final and players from across the provinces going on the lions tour!
Not Cian Healy please. For all his good play, he’s a dirty player, he was lucky to get away with such a short ban during the 6 nations, if he wasn’t Irish we’d have been howling for more. We can’t apply different standards to players just because they’re Irish…
Nick Williams has been colossal this season, he should get it but Zebo’s magical flick in Cardiff will probably see him win. Not that he hasn’t been good for the rest of the season but Williams has been standout player among the provinces.
I’ve the year and not just the past few months it has to be either Healy or Ryan since Christmas maybe Zebo but he didn’t do much before that.
Infact if Bowe and earls were fit would he even have got a game?
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Peter O’Mahony? One of Ireland’s stand out players along with Ryan. A probable Lion, only 23 in one of the most competitive positions in rugby!
Zebo gives Ireland the pace out wide we always needed but never had. Shoe in for the award, would be a disgrace if he didn’t get it!!!!
A shoe in?? 5 caps over the year, a few keepy uppys against Wales and missed most of the six nations. What is the fascination?
Eh Tommy Bowe? Having said that hope he gets it and is a bolter for the Lions.
To be fair, as much as I rate Tommy, he’s barely played all year. Nick Williams doesnt look anything like the lump Munster released a few years back. Glad to see he has gotten his house in order has had a brilliant season. Is it my imagination or has Healy found another scrummaging gear this season? Any of them for me.. but I need to make an honourable mention to Donncha Ryan… has been a collosus for Munster and Ireland all season while carrying an injury.
Nick Williams for me has been the best performer out of the three in domestic competitions, SOB was Ireland’s best player during the 6n IMO so I’m surprised he’s omitted. Zebo has been electric and deserves plenty of praise but missed a lot of short the international window. Healy has been excellent all season and played a lot of rugby but there was the stamping incident so I think there’s arguments for them all to win! I think that the lack of a clear winner along with reasons for each player to not win the award is in line with this seasons trend of being a thoroughly underwhelming one for Irish rugby. It’s a pity there is no stand out player who we could say has been one of European rugby’s best players this season. Hopefully all that can end tho with Munster making it to and maybe winning another final in the h-cup, Leinster winning the amlin, ulster playing Leinster in the rabo final and players from across the provinces going on the lions tour!
Not Cian Healy please. For all his good play, he’s a dirty player, he was lucky to get away with such a short ban during the 6 nations, if he wasn’t Irish we’d have been howling for more. We can’t apply different standards to players just because they’re Irish…
Ian Madigan for goodness sake!
Nick Williams has been colossal this season, he should get it but Zebo’s magical flick in Cardiff will probably see him win. Not that he hasn’t been good for the rest of the season but Williams has been standout player among the provinces.
Zebo has been great for Munster hun. The flick was merely the” icing on the cake”
As I alluded to in my original comment, mate.
Zebo
I’ve the year and not just the past few months it has to be either Healy or Ryan since Christmas maybe Zebo but he didn’t do much before that.
Infact if Bowe and earls were fit would he even have got a game?
Do you really think Gilroy or Zebo would have played in re 6n if Bowe and earls were fit?