The Irish Colleges Rugby season reached its conclusion today with the announcement of “The Treasury Holdings Irish Colleges Player of the Year Award 2010″…

The wining player is Michael Kearney, a first year student studying for a BA in Sports and Exercise (Rugby) Course at the Institute of Technology, Carlow.

This season Michael has represented the Irish Colleges in internationals against the French Students and English Students. He was also an integral part of the Leinster Colleges team who retained the Colleges Interprovincial title with wins over Connacht and Ulster.

Michael captained his College to the All Ireland Freshmen Cup with a hard fought 28–13 win over NUI Maynooth, scoring a decisive try in this game to push his side to victory. Michael has previously represented the Irish Youths and Leinster Under-19’s and plays his club rugby in Clontarf.

Treasury Holdings, the international real estate company and official partner of the Irish Rugby Football Union, initiated the Irish Colleges Players of the Year Award to recognise outstanding merit and achievement in student rugby. The award was decided through voting by the coaches of each of the college teams participating in the Treasury Holdings Domestic Colleges Division One and Two Leagues and the coaches at interprovincial and national level.

With over 25,000 students in the third level Colleges across Ireland, the Colleges game has been identified as a key development area as part of the IRFU’s Strategic Plan 2012.

Commenting on the Award John Bruder, Managing Director of Treasury Holdings Ireland said, “We are delighted to announce the first ever Treasury Holdings Irish Colleges Player of the Year Award. The idea for the award came about last year as both Treasury Holdings and the IRFU wanted to recognise the skill and hard work that the players put in at this level, in a bid to make the International team. Michael is a great player and a worthy winner. Well done to him and to all the players who participated in the leagues this year.

“It is great to see the sport developing at college level and we are delighted to be partnering the IRFU to develop both serious and social rugby in colleges across Ireland. This Award is set to become a highlight in the Colleges Rugby calendar each year and we hope to see the winners’ line out for the Irish Team some day.”

Michael Kearney said, “I am delighted to have won and would like to thank Treasury Holdings for the award. I would also like to thank my fellow players and coaches form the teams I have played with this season. Without their support and hard work, I would not be in this position.”

The Irish Colleges Rugby Union incorporates Universities, Agricultural Colleges, and Institutes of Technology, Army and Garda Colleges along with other third level institutions. 39 Universities and Colleges and 7500 students are involved at this level covering urban and rural Ireland both north and south.