Three Wins At IRUPA Awards

Three Munster representatives last night walked away victorious from the 12th Annual IRUPA Awards.

Following a public vote James Coughlan picked up the Unsung Hero Award. The Munster back row beat off competition from Ulster’s Roger Wilson and Michael Swift of Connacht. In recent years Coughlan has led from the front captaining Munster six times this season alone, picking up numerous man of the match awards along the way.

Mixed fortunes on the night for Donncha O’Callaghan. Despite Shane Jennings winning the Medal for Excellence (rewarding on field effort combined with off-field commitment to the game) for which the Munster second row was nominated, Donncha became the first ever recipient of the Contribution to Society Award in recognition of the significant impact made to society through his work with Unicef. In 2013 O’Callaghan went on a humanitarian mission to the Lebanon where he saw first-hand the dire situation for Syrian children and their families.

The inaugural Women’s Sevens Player of the Year 2014 as voted by members of the sevens squad was presented to Shannon’s Nicole Cronin for her consistent performances during the qualification tournaments for the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016. A former Munster U18, she was a member of this season’s Munster Women’s Senior Interpro Squad.

Meanwhile, JJ Hanrahan and Peter O’Mahony were unlucky to miss out on the Try of the Year and Player of the Year awards respectively. The Munster fly half’s last gasp try against Perpignan securing the sweetest of victories for Munster in the pool stages of the Heineken Cup losing out to Rob Kearney's intercept try during Ireland's heart-breaking defeat to New Zealand in the Autumn International Series.

O’Mahony and Leinster’s Devin Toner saw their Ireland Six Nations winning team mate Andrew Trimble walk away with the night’s main award, the IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year. A string of wonderful performances for both province and country earlier this season was plenty to ensure the Munster captain’s nomination in this category. The Corkman continues his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery that’s forced him to miss the end of this season.

See the full list of winners and nominees below;

IRUPA PLAYERS' PLAYER OF THE YEAR –

Winner: Andrew Trimble (Ulster)

Nominations: Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Devin Toner (Leinster) and Andrew Trimble (Ulster)

NEVIN SPENCE YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR –

Winner: Robbie Henshaw (Connacht)

Nominations: Robbie Henshaw (Connacht), Jack McGrath (Leinster) and Jordi Murphy (Leinster)

TRY OF THE YEAR –

Winner: Rob Kearney (Ireland v New Zealand, GUINNESS Series, November 2013)

Nominations: JJ Hanrahan (Munster v Perpignan away, Heineken Cup), Rob Kearney (Ireland v New Zealand, GUINNESS Series) and Jonathan Sexton (Ireland v France, RBS 6 Nations)

MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE –

Winner: Shane Jennings (Leinster)

Nominations: Shane Jennings (Leinster), Ronan Loughney (Connacht) and Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster)

IRUPA HALL OF FAME –

Inducted: Simon Best (Ulster)

UNSUNG HERO –

Winner: James Coughlan (Munster)

Nominations: James Coughlan (Munster), Michael Swift (Connacht) and Roger Wilson (Ulster)

SUPPORTERS' PLAYER OF THE YEAR –

Winner: Devin Toner (Leinster)

MOMENT OF THE YEAR –

Ireland winning the RBS 6 Nations title,

WOMEN'S SEVENS PLAYER OF THE YEAR –

Nicole Cronin

CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY –

Donncha O'Callaghan