Three excellent efforts by JJ Hanrahan, Rob Kearney and Jonathan Sexton, but which of them will come out on top at the IRUPA awards next month?
Hanrahan’s dramatic winning try against Perpignan in the Heineken Cup, Sexton’s intercept try in the heartbreaking defeat to the All-Blacks in November and Sexton’s crucial effort against France in Paris (see all three below) have all been nominated for the Try of the Year, with the winner set to receive the award at the annual IRUPA (Irish Rugby Union Players’ Association) awards on May 7.
Peter O’Mahony, Andrew Trimble and Devin Toner have all been shortlisted for the Hibernia College IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year award, while Robbie Henshaw and Leinster duo Jack McGrath and Jordi Murphy have been nominated for the Nevin Spence Young Player of the Year award.
Supporters can vote for their own Player of the Year by tuning into Off the Ball on Newstalk on Monday 28 April and vote for the Unsung Hero of the Year and the moment of the year on social media channels, more details about which can be found on the IRFU website here.
The sold-out awards ceremony will be hosted by former Lions number 8 Scott Quinnell and will take place in Dublin’s Double Tree by Hilton Hotel on Wednesday, May 7.
2014 IRUPA PLAYERS’ AWARDS NOMINATIONS:
HIBERNIA COLLEGE IRUPA PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Peter O’Mahony (Munster)
Devin Toner (Leinster)
Andrew Trimble (Ulster)
NEVIN SPENCE YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Robbie Henshaw (Connacht)
Jack McGrath (Leinster)
Jordi Murphy (Leinster)
VOLKSWAGEN TRY OF YEAR
JJ Hanrahan, Munster v Perpignan away (Heineken Cup)
Rob Kearney, Ireland v New Zealand (GUINNESS Series)
Jonathan Sexton, Ireland v France (RBS 6 Nations)
HIBERNIA COLLEGE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE
Shane Jennings (Leinster)
Ronan Loughney (Connacht)
Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster)
