IRUPA, THE IRISH Rugby Union Players Association, have today unveiled its shortlist for the players’ player of the year award.
Unsurprisingly, all four nominees played a central role in Ireland’s successful Six Nations campaign.
Half-backs Jonathan Sexton and Conor Murray are nominated along with captain Paul O’Connell and 21-year-old Robbie Henshaw.
The Connacht centre formed an important part of Ireland’s Championship defence and seems a shoe-in to claim the Nevin Spence Young Player of the Year award for the third time running. Though there will be competition from Leinster’s Jack Conan and Jack McGrath.
Leinster’s other individual nominee comes in the IRUPA Unsung hero award, with winger Darragh Fanning alongside Munster’s Denis Hurley and Ulster prop Callum Black. The public are encouraged to vote for the unsung hero using #3UnsungHero on Twitter.
Supporters can also vote for their moment of the year with #PHMoment15 and their own Player of the Year in a vote which opens to the public from 4 May with details to be broadcast on Newstalk.
Among the other gongs to be handed out at the 13 May ceremony will be Try of the Year (see them here) and a Hibernia College medal for excellence to be awarded to either Chris Henry, Felix Jones and Michael Swift nominated.
Who would you name Irish Player of the Year?
Paulie. Man, Myth, Legend.
Henshaw should get it. O’Connell was not even mentioned as a candidate up to the Scotland game. “Paulie” has a lot of friends in the media though…
Back under your bridge
Those that didn’t vote for Paul O Connell – He will look for you. He will find you. He will kill you.
POC for president for life… (At least he’d size up when shaking hands at international matches)
Yup, has to be O’Connell he’s a Legend!!
Why when talk about 4 Irish player who just helped us win back to back 6N do we have to put one of them down to prove our favourite was better?
There was 30+ Irish players who done us proud pick your favourites by all means don’t there’s no need to knock any of the others to do so.
My first reaction was Robbie Henshaw. For a 21 year old playing his first Six Nations, he was absolutely brilliant. But it’s gotta be Paulie. Played like a man possessed and lead from the front. I’m sticking to my opinion that he’s Ireland’s greatest player.
Peter O’Mahony surely should be listed ahead of Henshaw??
Not ahead of Henshaw. I am genuinely surprised he isn’t ahead of Sexton. But lets face it, there is only one winner.
POC all the way.
He was magnificent the entire tournament, hands down
How is Paddy Wallace not up there
Good to see at least half of people have a sense of humour
POC in the form of his life