Fogarty, Dempsey & Heaslip honoured by IRUPA…

May 13, 2010 12:00 am client

Ireland and Ospreys winger, Tommy Bowe, was voted the Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year by his fellow players at the eighth annual Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Awards in the Burlington Hotel on Wednesday…

This is the second time Bowe has been honoured with the top accolade having won it in 2008. Connacht’s Fionn Carr was also among those recognised when he was awarded the IRUPA Nature Valley Young Player of the Year.

Tommy Bowe was delighted with the award commenting: “This is the second time I’ve received this Players’ Player award and I’m absolutely thrilled, it’s great to be recognised by the other players especially when you’re playing overseas.”

Andrew Trimble of Ulster picked up the IRUPA Volkswagen Try of the Year for his try against Bath in the Heineken Cup and Leinster’s JOHN FOGARTY collected the IRUPA Nokia Unsung Hero Award. Joining Ireland’s heroes in the Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Hall of Fame was Leinster legend, GIRVAN DEMPSEY.

JAMIE HEASLIP was also awarded the Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Supporters’ Player of the Year, voted for by listeners of Newstalk106-108 fm.

Niall Woods, CEO of IRUPA said: “Winning an IRUPA award is the highest honour a player can receive. The winners can take great pride in knowing that they have the total respect of those who they play with and against. Congratulations to all those nominated and in particular to Tommy, Andrew, Fionn, John, Jamie and Girv in winning what are the most sought after awards in Irish rugby.”

Commenting on Wednesday night’s awards David Bunworth, MD of Bord Gáis Energy said: “Over recent years, we have seen the emergence of some world class players in Irish rugby and Tommy is a true example of this. I would like to extend my congratulations to him and all the other players who have been honoured here tonight.

“Our rugby players have achieved a massive amount in the last few years, making it one of the great eras of Irish rugby, and the sport has a very bright future ahead. I’d like to acknowledge the great work IRUPA does in promoting and protecting the welfare of our players and it is testament to the organisation that so many greats of the game have turned out to support these awards tonight.”

The O2 Team of the Decade was also announced at the awards and the top 15 included Keith Wood, Peter Stringer, Brian O’Driscoll and Denis Hickie. The award was accepted by Malcolm O’Kelly and each player received a commemorative gift from Newbridge Silverware.

BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRUPA PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2010

Winner: Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)

Nominations:

Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
Keith Earls (Munster)
Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

IRUPA NOKIA UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR 2010

Winner: John Fogarty (Leinster)

Nominations:

John Fogarty (Leinster)
Chris Henry (Ulster)
Michael Swift (Connacht)

IRUPA NATURE VALLEY YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2010

Winner: Fionn Carr (Connacht)

Nominations:

Fionn Carr (Connacht)
Scott Deasy (Munster)
Keith Earls (Munster)

BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRUPA HALL OF FAME 2010

Inducted: Girvan Dempsey (Leinster)

IRUPA VOLKSWAGEN TRY OF YEAR 2010

Winner: Andrew Trimble (Bath v Ulster, Heineken Cup)