Tadhg Beirne voted OCC Consulting Men's XVs Players' Players of the Year
Men's Award winner Beirne was unable to collect his award on the night but speaking from South Africa said: 'I'm honoured to be named as the OCC Consulting Men's Players' Player of the Year. It comes as quite a surprise given that Caelan, Tom and Jamison have all had brilliant seasons. "To be chosen by my fellow Rugby Players Ireland members makes this award even more meaningful, and I really appreciate their support and acknowledgement.'Dalton was named the OCC Consulting Women's XVs Players' Player of the Year following a hugely impactful campaign in the Irish midfield across 2024/25. At just 22, Dalton has already been established as a key figure in an Irish dressing room that is set to up the ante ahead of the Rugby World Cup in England later this year.
Speaking as she claimed the Players' Player award, Dalton said: 'It's a very exciting time to be involved with this group of players. To be recognised by them at such a crucial time for this team is hard to put into words. "When I first came into camp, I could sense that something was beginning to build and I think we have started to see the fruits of that over recent months both collectively and individually, through the performances of my fellow nominees Amee-Leigh, Niamh and Dorothy.'There was a special presentation made to Eimear Considine who made a try-scoring return to international action following two ACL injuries and the birth of her son Caolán and who announced her retirement during the season. To mark both her Irish sporting legacy and longstanding contribution to mental wellbeing discourse in Ireland, Considine was presented with the Zurich Contribution to Irish Society Award as Tackle Your Feelings kicked off its ten-year anniversary celebrations.Rugby Players Ireland Executive Board Member, Iain Henderson said: 'While this season has brought its share of challenges both on and off the field, it's also been a year marked by plenty of individual standout achievements across the game. It's important that we celebrate them and use this as an opportunity to look ahead with real optimism. There's still work to do, but through the support of Rugby Players Ireland, the steps being taken show a collective commitment to moving the game forward.'
Simon Keogh, CEO of Rugby Players Ireland added: 'A Rugby Players Ireland Award represents the highest individual accolade a player can receive in our game. To be named by your peers in this way is the ultimate mark of respect. My congratulations to all of our winners tonight. At Rugby Players Ireland, we work to ensure players' voices and efforts are recognised and supported. These awards celebrate not only talent but the influence and standards set behind the scenes that help to drive our game forward.'
OCC CONSULTING MEN'S XVs PLAYERS' PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025Tadhg BeirneNominees: Caelan Doris, Tom Farrell, Jamison Gibson-Park
OCC CONSULTING WOMEN'S XVs PLAYERS' PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025Aoife DaltonNominees: Amee-Leigh Costigan, Niamh O'Dowd, Dorothy Wall
NEVIN SPENCE MEN'S XVs YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025Sam PrendergastNominees: Gus McCarthy, Ben Murphy
ENERGIA WOMEN's XVs YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025Erin KingNominees: Ruth Campbell, Aoife Dalton
MSL MERCEDES-BENZ BALLSBRIDGE MEN'S XVs TRY OF THE YEAR 2025Dan Sheehan (v England)Nominees: Stewart Moore (v Stormers), Dan Sheehan (v Ulster Rugby)
AIB CORPORATE BANKING WOMEN'S XVs TRY OF THE YEAR 2025Anna McGann (v Italy)Nominees: Amee-Leigh Costigan (v England), Linda Djougang (v Wales)
TRITONLAKE MEN'S 7s PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025Dylan O'GradyNominees: Niall Comerford, Mark Roche
TRITONLAKE WOMEN'S 7s PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025Lucinda KinghanNominees: Hannah Clarke, Kate Farrell-McCabe
ZURICH CONTRIBUTION TO IRISH SOCIETY AWARD 2025Eimear Considine
DRUIDS GLEN HOTEL & GOLF RESORT MOMENT ON THE YEAR 2025Ireland's Triple Crown Success accepted by Caelan Doris
About Rugby Players IrelandRugby Players Ireland, as the representative body for Ireland's professional rugby players, consistently strives to make Ireland the best place in the world to play rugby. Rugby Players Ireland is working towards achieving this vision by ensuring that player welfare is always prioritized and that there are fair and equitable terms and conditions for players. The association also adopts a whole of life approach to player development and ensures that the profile enjoyed by Ireland's rugby players contributes to the future development not just of Irish rugby but Irish society as a whole.
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Andrew Conan / INPHO Andrew Conan / INPHO / INPHO ********** Advertisement Connacht 12-7 Ulster Second-half tries from replacement Faith Oviawe and Roisin Maher steered a young Connacht team to a gutsy 12-7 win over Ulster at Dexcom Stadium. With 21-year-old captain and Player of the Match Éabha Nic Dhonnacha leading by example, Emer O'Dowd's charges recovered from an early deficit to open their win account in this year's Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship. Ulster's new centre Siobhán Sheerin thundered over in the ninth minute, raising her side's hopes of a first victory at this level in two years. They still led 7-0 after half-time, emerging unscathed from Brenda Barr's sin-binning. Nonetheless, with Connacht's bench having the desired impact, forwards Oviawe and Maher scored within seven minutes of each other. In addition, Nic Dhonnacha clipped over the first conversion. Connacht's Hannah Clarke and Kate Farrell-McCabe of Ulster. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO The hosts, who wore their club socks on their State of Origin day, remained on the front foot and saw out a rousing triumph, putting last week's disappointing display against Munster to bed. Unfortunately the hard-earned four points came at a cost for Connacht as the luckless Kayla Waldron was stretchered off in her first game since a horrific leg break in April 2024. There was a lot of concern too for Emily Foley who was taken off with an injury late on. Ulster picked up a losing bonus point for their efforts, and will have home advantage against table toppers Munster at Affidea Stadium next Saturday. Connacht remain in Galway, with a place in the final to play for against Leinster, who are two points better off. Connacht scorers Tries: Faith Oviawe, Roisin Maher Con: Éabha Nic Dhonnacha Ulster scorers Try: Siobhán Sheerin Con: Siobhán Sheerin CONNACHT: Clara Barrett (UL Bohemian RFC); Emily Foley (Galwegians RFC), Orla Dixon (Galwegians RFC), Éabha Nic Dhonnacha (UL Bohemian RFC) (capt), Hannah Clarke (Old Belvedere RFC); Kayla Waldron (Railway Union RFC), Gráinne Moran (Galwegians RFC); Hannah Coen (Creggs RFC), Lily Brady (Westport RFC/UL Bohemian RFC), Roisin Maher (Galwegians RFC), Poppy Garvey (Railway Union RFC), Grace Browne Moran (Galwegians RFC), Beibhinn Gleeson (Tuam/Oughterard RFC), Ailish Quinn (Galwegians RFC), Jemima Adams Verling (Creggs RFC). Replacements: Stacy Hanley (Galwegians RFC), Ellen Connolly (Galwegians RFC), Hope Lowney (MU Barnhall RFC), Faith Oviawe (Railway Union RFC), Caoilfhionn Conway Morrissey (Ennis RFC), Lesley Ring (Old Belvedere RFC), Ava Ryder (Blackrock College RFC), Fódhla Ní Bhraonáin (Tuam/Oughterard RFC). A view of a scrum. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO ULSTER: Kate Farrell McCabe (Suttonians RFC); Lucy Thompson (Enniskillen RFC/Cooke RFC), Siobhán Sheerin (Clogher Valley RFC), Tara O'Neill (Cooke RFC), Niamh Marley (Cooke RFC); Lauren Farrell McCabe (Suttonians RFC), Georgia Boyce (Cooke RFC); Sarah Roberts (Queen's University Belfast RFC), Maebh Clenaghan (Queen's University Belfast RFC), Ava Fannin (Blackrock College RFC), Lauren Darley (Queen's University Belfast RFC), Brenda Barr (Suttonians RFC), Moya Hill (Enniskillen RFC), Ruby Starrett (Queen's University Belfast RFC), India Daley (Enniskillen RFC/Blackrock College RFC) (capt). Replacements: Cara McLean (Larne RFC), Megan Simpson (Cooke RFC), Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen RFC), Rebecca Beacom (Enniskillen RFC), Katie Hetherington (Clogher Valley RFC), Sophie Meeke (Enniskillen RFC), Kelly McCormill (Cooke RFC), Stacey Sloan (Cooke RFC). Referee: John Purcell (IRFU).
