LEINSTER’S SEAN O’BRIEN has received the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Player of the Year award.

The player has been in terrific form this season and played an instrumental role in Leinster’s Heineken Cup success.

The award will serve as a boost for O’Brien going into his first World Cup, as he follows in the footsteps of previous winners that include Paul O’Connell and Ronan O’Gara.

It comes after his acquisition of the ERC European Player of the Year earlier in the year.

Speaking to IrishRugby.ie after receiving the award, O’Brien expressed optimism that Ireland could beat France this Saturday in the Aviva Stadium. He said:

“We were a score away from them and we played very poorly. So you’d have to be confident, if we get it right, that we can beat them.”

The 24-year-old flanker added that he was not concerned by Ireland’s lack of tries in the game, saying:

“I wouldn’t say it’s a worry at all. If you look at the last couple of games we played against France, we’ve outscored them on the try sheet a couple of times.”

In addition, other award recipients on the night included Lynne Cantwell (Women’s Player of the Year), Old Belvedere (Club of the Year), Leinster (Team of the Year) and Alan Lewis (Tom Rooney Award).

Meanwhile Ollie Campbell and Mick Lane were inducted into the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Hall of Fame.

Read more at IrishRugby.ie>

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