Munster players up for top awards

THERE is likely to be plenty of Munster winners at the Rugby Players Ireland Awards which takes place on Wednesday, May 16, at the Clayton Hotel in Ballsbridge.

Among those in the running for the coveted Players’ Player of the Year award are Munster and Ireland winger Keith Earls, while his team-mate Conor Murray has also been nominated along with Leinster duo Tadhg Furlong and Jonathan Sexton.

UL Bohs and Munster back-row Ciara Griffin is in contention for the Women’s Player of the Year award after skippering her country this season and will go head to head with fellow Ireland internationals Katie Fitzhenry and Claire Molloy for the top gong.

Two memorable moments from Munster players are in the running for Try of the Year. Andrew Conway’s magical effort against Toulon in the Champions Cup and CJ Stander’s effort against England at Twickenham have made the cut.

Meanwhile, former Munster hooker Duncan Casey is in the running to claim the Medal for Excellence accolade. Casey joined Grenoble earlier this year, but has been nominated by his peers as one of the individuals who has shown exceptional commitment to the game of rugby both on and off the field. Connacht’s Jake Heenan and Leinster’s Rhys Ruddock are also nominated.

The prestigious evening will honour a strong season for Irish Rugby, marked by the success of Irish sides in both domestic and European competitions.

Eleven Irish players also featured for the British & Irish Lions in the historic drawn series in New Zealand.

Nominations for the Supporters’ Player of the Year award can be made by the general public by visiting www.rugbyplayersireland.ie, while the rugby moment of the year can be voted on via the Twitter account of sponsors @DruidsGlen.