Brian O’Driscoll was inducted into the RPA Hall of Fame at the 18th annual RPA Players’ Awards 2016 in association with England Rugby.
The evening played host to some of the biggest names in the game, with Wasps back row George Smith, currently in his 17th year of professional rugby, named the Players’ Player of the Year.
Big honor last night. Many thanks to Hoppers & everyone involved in the #RPAAwards16 for my award. https://t.co/ynYYE5HgpU
— Brian O’Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) May 12, 2016
This year’s inductee to @theRPA Hall of Fame: Leinster, Ireland & Lions hero @BrianODriscoll https://t.co/HwqNJgBGHd pic.twitter.com/2xarIUmNE3
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) May 11, 2016
On englandrugby.com, O’Driscoll’s achievements with Leinster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions were highlighted as the reasons for the former outside centre’s induction into the RPA Hall of Fame: “Brian O’Driscoll is not only an Ireland legend, but one of the most iconic stars in the history of the sport. He is the second most capped international player of all time with 133 caps and he won three Champions Cup titles with Leinster, three RBS 6 Nations trophies including a Grand Slam in 2009 and won a British and Irish Lions series in 2013. There are few players in world rugby who deserve a lifetime achievement more than O’Driscoll.”
O’Driscoll played 186 times for Leinster (putting him sixth on the all-time list), scoring 61 tries (second only to Shane Horgan’s 69 tries for the province).
The RPA Hall of Fame Induction
Brian O’Driscoll
The RPA Players’ Player of the Year in association with England Rugby
Winner: George Smith – Wasps Rugby
Nominees:
Andy Goode – Newcastle Falcons
Nathan Hughes – Wasps Rugby
Charles Piutau – Wasps Rugby
Thomas Waldrom – Exeter Chiefs
LV= Young Player of the Year
Winner: Maro Itoje – Saracens
Nominees:
Jack Clifford – Harlequins
Elliot Daly – Wasps Rugby
Harry Mallinder – Northampton Saints
Harry Thacker – Leicester Tigers
The Old Mutual Wealth England Player of the Year
Winner: Billy Vunipola – Saracens
Nominees:
James Haskell – Wasps Rugby
George Kruis – Saracens
Chris Robshaw – Harlequins
Anthony Watson – Bath Rugby
England Sevens Player of the Year
Winner: Dan Bibby
Nominees:
Warwick Lahmert
Ruaridh McConnochie
England Women’s Player of the Year
Winner: Sarah Hunter
Nominees:
Emily Braund
Heather Fisher
Championship Player of the Year in association with England Rugby
Winner: Jack Lam – Bristol Rugby
Nominees:
Ryan Burrows – Yorkshire Carnegie
Jonah Holmes – Yorkshire Carnegie
Nine Feet Tall Personal Development Programme Award
Winner: Rob Hawkins – Newcastle Falcons
Nominees:
Tom Court – London Irish
James Hudson – Gloucester Rugby
Richard Thorpe – London Welsh
The Restart Rugby Special Merit Award
Charlie Hodgson
RPA Blyth Spirit Award
Henry Fraser
