Ireland’s Rugby Players Association IRUPA have announced the nominations for Irish rugby’s ultimate accolade, the Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year…
The award is one of seven which will be announced at the annual awards on Wednesday, 4th May. These are the only awards voted for by the players themselves and votes are spread from across all four provinces.
In the running to land the much sought after Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year are Munster’s Keith Earls, Leinster’s dynamic back row Sean O’Brien and utility back Isa Nacewa, who is also nominated for the Volkswagen Try of the Year.
Brian O’Driscoll, Acting Chairman of IRUPA said, “Winning an IRUPA award, which is voted for by the players who you play with and against, is the best mark of respect for any rugby player. These awards celebrate not only those players, but also raise much needed monies for the IRUPA Injured Players Fund.”
Among the six other awards is the IRUPA Nature Valley Young Player of the Year Award, contested this year by a feast of talented players including Munster’s Conor Murray, Rhys Ruddock from Leinster and Ulster’s next centre prodigy Nevin Spence.
John Mullins, CEO, Bord Gáis said, “This is the third year of our sponsorship of the Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Awards and we’re really delighted to be involved again in what is the gala rugby event of the year. To be nominated and voted for by your peers and fellow players is a huge honour and recognition.
“IRUPA do a fantastic amount of work behind the scenes of Irish rugby and the support they receive from their members is testament to this and an acknowledgement of the importance of initiatives like the IRUPA Injured Players Fund.”
Rugby fans across Ireland can again vote for their Supporters’ Player of the Year 2011 on Newstalk106-108fm. Tune in Newstalk106-108fm from Monday April 25th to vote, and to be in with a chance to win a year’s supply of electricity from Bord Gáis Energy and also attend the event at the Burlington on Wednesday 4th May. The award will be presented to the winning player at the Bord Gáis Energy Awards.
A new award this year is the O2 Rugby Moment of the Year which singles out defining moments from the rugby season and will be voted for by the public via O2’s facebook page www.facebook/bethedifference
2011 BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRUPA AWARDS:
PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR –
Keith Earls (Munster)
Isa Nacewa (Leinster)
Sean O’Brien (Leinster)
UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR –
Willie Faloon (Ulster)
Wian du Preez (Munster)
Richardt Strauss (Leinster)
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR –
Conor Murray (Munster)
Nevin Spence (Ulster)
Rhys Ruddock (Leinster)
TRY OF YEAR –
Fionn Carr (Connacht v Scarlets, Magners League)
Craig Gilroy (Ulster v Cardiff Blues, Magners League)
Isa Nacewa (Leinster v Leicester Tigers, Heineken Cup)
HALL OF FAME –
Recipient will be announced on Wednesday, April 27
RUGBY MOMENT OF THE YEAR –
Announced at the IRUPA Awards on Wednesday, May 4
SUPPORTERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR –
The Supporters’ Player of the Year, as voted by listeners of Newstalk 106-108FM, will be announced at the IRUPA Awards on Wednesday, May 4
