Racing Metro out-half Jonathan Sexton has been given a bit of an ego boost ahead of the meeting with Australia this weekend after he was named as the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Player of the Year.
Sexton collected the award at a function in the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin this evening after a year in which he was part of a Leinster side that won the RaboDirect PRO12 league and the Amlin Challenge Cup, a Lions side that won their first test series in 16 years and an Ireland side that, eh, well, will hopefully have a satisfactory end to the year after the November series.
Commenting on the award, which was voted for by the Irish rugby media, Sexton said:” It has been a long time since I won an individual award like the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Player of the Year. It’s not something you set out to achieve, you want to win things from a team perspective, but it is nice to see your efforts recognised on an individual basis.
“As an out half you need to thank all of the players you’ve played with and the coaches as well, because you rely on them so heavily. It’s a good sign that if the No 10 wins an award that the team has done their job well, too.”
Elsewhere, Leinster were awarded the Dave Guiney Team of the Year for the third year running after claiming the Amlin Challenge Cup, RaboDirect Pro12 League and the British & Irish Cup and Niamh Briggs picked up the Women’s Player of the Year award after a fantastic season where she played an instrumental role in the Irish Women’s team historic Grand Slam victory in the Six Nations. The Women’s side were also honoured for their heroics with a Special Recognition Award.
Lansdowne FC were voted Club of the Year due to their success in the All-Ireland League this past season, as they sauntered to the title by a margin of 18 points, Alain Rolland was given the Tom Rooney Award for his exceptional contribution to refereeing and former Ireland and British & Irish Lions player and manager Donal Lenihan was inducted into the Guinness Hall of Fame.
Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland awards
Player of the Year: Jonathan Sexton
Dave Guiney Perpetual Trophy (Team of the Year): Leinster
Tom Rooney Award: Alain Rolland
Guinness Hall of Fame: Donal Lenihan
Women’s Player of the Year: Niamh Briggs
Club of the Year: Lansdowne Rugby Club
