RORY BEST, CJ Stander, Jack McGrath and Robbie Henshaw have been nominated for IRUPA’s Player of the Year award, the winner of which will be announced at the Zurich Irish Rugby Players’ Awards on 4 May in Dublin.
Voted for by their fellow professional players, there is one nominee from each of the four provinces in Ireland.
[image alt="CJ Stander during the National Anthems" src="http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2016/04/cj-stander-during-the-national-anthems-4-630x466.jpg" width="630" height="466" credit-source="%C2%A9INPHO%2FDan%20Sheridan%20%03" caption="Stander%20made%20his%20Ireland%20debut%20this%20year.%20" class="alignnone" /end]
IRUPA say the four finalists were selected “based on consistent form across the Pro12, Champions Cup, Challenge Cup, World Cup and Six Nations.”
Henshaw was nominated for the award last year too, but former Ireland captain Paul O’Connell scooped the top prize.
Meanwhile, Leinster pair Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier and Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey have been nominated for the 2016 Nevin Spence Young Player of the Year award.
Van der Flier and McCloskey both made their Ireland debuts in this year’s Six Nations, while Ringrose has impressed for Leo Cullen’s Leinster.
Sene Naoupu, Paula Fitzpatrick and Ciara Griffin are the finalists in the Women’s XVs Player of the Year category, while Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe, Ashleigh Baxter and Audrey Flynn have been nominated for Women’s 7s Player of the Year.
Leinster’s Isaac Boss and Connacht pair Ronan Loughney and John Muldoon have been put forward for the Medal For Excellence award.
Who do you feel is most deserving of the Player of the Year award?
Poll Results:
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