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TheScore.ie's end-of-season rugby awards bonanza

With finals in France, England and the Pro12 bringing the curtain down on the club season this weekend, it’s time to give credit where it’s due.

THE CLUB SEASON is just one weekend away from ending after a nine long months of hard graft.

To celebrate, we’ve picked out some of the men who have made their mark on European rugby outside of the international windows (our Six Nations awards came and went in March).

Now, tighten up that dicky bow and buff those shoes, because the bouncers at TheScore.ie’s very, very fancy awards dinner won’t tolerate any rowdiness before 9pm.

Player of the Season

Matt Giteau celebrates James Crombiee / INPHO James Crombiee / INPHO / INPHO

Toulon centre Matt Giteau has been instrumental in their defence of the European Cup and assault on the Bouclier de Brennus.

His ability to seamlessly switch into the number 10 when required is always useful, but has also delivered timely interventions of genius to turn RCT from a solid, immovable object into an irresistible force.

Young Player of the Season

At 22 Paddy Jackson was a driving force of Ulster’s rise to become Europe’s top seeds at the end of the Heineken Cup pool stage while also showing his defensive prowess in the impressive away victories in Leicester and Montpellier.

Paddy Jackson gets away from Issac Boss to score a penalty try Presseye / Brian Little/INPHO Presseye / Brian Little/INPHO / Brian Little/INPHO

Jackson has marked himself out as an out-half with an innate ability to marshal a back-line and when called upon has shown much greater consistency in goal-kicking than the nervous attempts which characterised his debut season.

Coach of the Season

Pro12 finalist Glasgow Warriors are guided by the ethos of Gregor Townsend.

Glasgow Warriors Tommy Seymour, Niko Matawalu and Gregor Townsend celebrate at the final whistle Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

The ex-international has steadily built the Warriors as a club year-on-year, playing a brand of expansive and effective rugby with few household names at his disposal.

Irish Coach of the Season

Grenoble’s form may have gone off the boil in the latter third of the season, but the defensive structures put in place by Bernard Jackman have made the ex-Leinster hooker a highly-respected coach in France and he will take the reins as head coach next season.

Bernard Jackman arrives for the match Colm O'Neill / INPHO Colm O'Neill / INPHO / INPHO

 Most hilarious drop-goal attempt

Nice one, Mathieu Bastareaud.

basta

Best penalty

Toulon were never short of willing goal-kickers, but when distance was called for, Delon Armitage was the man with the range.

This 55-metre effort against Munster cleared the bar comfortably.

Rugbymeet / YouTube

Best try celebration

Andrew Trimble wasn’t even playing in this game, but wins this gong because of the bear suit he’s rocking from 25 seconds in this clip.

RaboDirect PRO12 / YouTube

Best block down

For defying the perception of his speed and adherence to the laws of gravity, take a bow James Coughlan.

jc-flying

Most Often Sung as Unsung Player of the Season

Don’t sit down, James Coughlan, it’s you again.

James Coughlan JC is a superstar, no matter what successive international coaches say. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Shock Result of the Season

It’s worth re-watching Brendan Leonard’s try that brought about the big shock of the early season – Cardiff Blues 25 Zebre 30 – and Zebre’s first ever win.

RaboDirect PRO12 / YouTube

Best Turnover of the Season

Brian O’Driscoll delivered this try-saving tackle in tandem with a game-turning turnover against Castres.

Oh, he’ll be missed.

Murray Kinsella / YouTube

Second row Pass of the season

Check out the soft hands on Big Michael Swift as Connacht went all Harlem Globetrotters for Robbie Henshaw’s try against Zebre.

swifty

Worst TMO decision

What’s even the point of having  TMO if you can’t tell a knock-on from an illegal slap down? This is from Munster’s loss to Llanelli.

RaboDirect PRO12 / YouTube

 

Best XV

1. Jack McGrath (Leinster). 2. Schalk Brits (Saracens). 2. Carl Hayman Toulon). 4. Alistair Hargreaves (Saracens). 5. Paul O’Connell (Munster). 6. Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors). 7. Jacques Burger (Saracens). 8. Steffon Armitage (Toulon):9. Rory Kockott (Castres), 10. George Ford (Bath). 11. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors). 12. Matt Giteau (Toulon). 13. Vereniki Goneva (Leicester Tigers). 14. Chris Ashton (Saracens). 15. Metuisela Talebula (Bordeaux Begles).

Which players would you single out for special mention this season?

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