Munster Rugby Awards 2021

The winners of the 2021 Munster Rugby Awards were announced online across Munster Rugby channels today with four players recognised for their achievements throughout the 2020/21 season.

Gavin Coombes has been named Munster Rugby Men’s Player of the Year for 2020/21 with the 23-year-old becoming the youngest ever winner of the award.

Tipperary native Dorothy Wall has deservedly been named Women’s Player of the Year following an excellent season with a number of top performances on the international stage.

Scrum-half Craig Casey has been named Young Player of the Year and the John McCarthy Award for Greencore Munster Rugby Academy Player of the Year goes to Ben Healy.

See full details of the award winners below.

Men’s Player of the Year – Gavin Coombes

The powerful back-row forward enjoyed a fantastic campaign and scored 15 tries in 22 appearances, the most tries ever scored by a player for Munster in a single season.

The Skibbereen man featured in 22 of Munster’s 25 fixtures (17 starts) and was consistently superb throughout, averaging a try every 87 minutes.

Along with his record-breaking try-scoring exploits and powerful ball-carrying, Coombes was equally effective in defence and was a constant threat to the opposition at the breakdown.

A product of Skibbereen RFC and Bandon Grammar, Coombes has been named in the Ireland squad for the Vodafone Summer Series and will hope to cap off an outstanding campaign with his first Ireland cap.

Women’s Player of the Year – Dorothy Wall

Tipperary native Dorothy Wall enjoyed an excellent season with a number of top performances on the international stage.

The 21-year-old started playing rugby at Fethard & District RFC before progressing through the Munster pathway which included success at under-age level. The back-row lined out for Munster Women during the 2019/2020 interprovincial championship before making her international debut against Scotland in the 2020 Six Nations.

Two further appearances as a replacement followed until Wall earned her first start for her country in the rescheduled Six Nations clash with Italy in October 2020.

Wall backed that up with three further starts in the recently concluded 2021 Six Nations as she established herself as an integral part of Adam Griggs’ side which included tries against Wales and Italy.

Her performances this season have been characterised by powerful ball-carrying and a relentless work-ethic in defence. Despite only having seven caps to her name, the Tipperary woman is already leading by her actions on the pitch. She is well-deserving of the Women’s Player of the Year accolade.

Young Player of the Year – Craig Casey

22-year-old Craig Casey was a standout performer throughout the campaign with the scrum-half featuring in 19 of Munster’s 25 fixtures (12 starts).

He scored four tries and won three Player of the Match awards. A constant menace to opposition defences, Casey enjoyed a brilliant season thanks to his high-tempo style and game management from scrum-half.

Along with his impressive form at club level, Casey also earned his first Ireland cap against Italy in the Six Nations.

A product of Shannon RFC and Ardscoil Rís, Casey won the Munster Academy Player of the Year award in 2019.

Named in the Ireland squad for the Vodafone Summer Series, the Limerick native will look to continue his good run of form if selected for the upcoming games against Japan and USA.

John McCarthy Award for Greencore Academy Player of the Year – Ben Healy

Advancing into his second year of the Greencore Munster Academy Ben Healy enjoyed a brilliant start to the 2020/21 season excelling in wins over Scarlets, Edinburgh and Cardiff Blues.

His early season introduction saw him kick a fantastic 50-metre penalty to win the game against Scarlets in additional time in Round 1 of the Guinness PRO14.

The 21-year-old’s rise continued as he enjoyed a successful campaign kicking 82 points and scoring one try in his 17 appearances (7 starts).

With a monster boot and composed nature the future looks bright for the young out-half as he joins the senior squad ahead of the 2021/22 season.

Due to Covid-19 government restrictions and limited activity across domestic rugby, the awards focused on individual standout performances at elite level this season.