Briggs Named Writers Player Of The Year

Niamh Briggs has picked up the Women’s Player of the Year award for a second successive season at the annual Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Awards.

The UL Bohemian, Munster and Ireland star has been rewarded for her fantastic performances at full-back during the Women's Rugby World Cup.

Briggs excelled in all aspects of her game, but especially from the kicking tee as Ireland recorded victories over New Zealand, USA and Kazakhstan. Briggs' performances also earned her a nomination for IRB Women's Player of the Year.

The Dungarvan native helped Ireland claim famous victory over New Zealand at the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup with her impressive place-kicking and the assist for Alison Miller's try.

Briggs is a former Gaelic Footballer with Waterford and works as a Garda in Limerick.

Ulster and Ireland winger Andrew Trimble has been named the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Player of the Year.

The Irish side were awarded the Dave Guiney Team of the Year award in recognition of a stellar Six Nations campaign which saw them claim their second Six Nations Championship of the professional era, scoring 16 tries along the way.

Clontarf were crowned the Club of the Year after they secured the first Ulster Bank League Division 1A title in the club's history.

The Tom Rooney award was awarded jointly to Phillip Doyle (former Ireland Women's head coach) and former UL Bohemian player Fiona Coghlan (former Ireland Women's captain), in recognition of the huge contribution both individuals have made to the development and success of Women's rugby in Ireland at all levels in recent years.

Former Ireland and British & Irish Lions player Hugo MacNeill was inducted into the Guinness Hall of Fame .

The award ceremony was hosted by Peter O'Brien of Guinness, John D O'Brien and Michael Corcoran, Chairman of the Rugby Writers of Ireland.