Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson-Park, and Dan Sheehan are in the running for the Men’s XVs Players’ Player of the Year 2024, making the contest fiercely contested. The award last year was taken home by Caelan Doris.
Aki, who is 34, is no stranger to such nominations, having been recognised for the Six Nations Player of the Championship and World Rugby Player of the Year previously because of his tremendous performance during the World Cup. This year is arguably the best in his career.
In all of Ireland’s World Cup matches where he netted five tries, Aki was constantly on the field. He also remained on the field throughout all of Ireland’s victorious Six Nations competition, with the exception of the match against Italy.
Rival nominee and 32-year-old Gibson-Park has also had his most successful stint for his local and national teams, carving his place as the core of both the Leinster and Irish teams in the time after Johnny Sexton, through fast reactions, a sound understanding of tactics and impeccable execution throughout the game.
Sheehan, who is being considered for the award for the second year running, participated throughout the Six Nations where Ireland triumphed, emerging as one of the top try scorers alongside Scotland’s Duhan van der Merwe. He also played a key role in Leinster’s advancement to the Champions Cup Final in London the following weekend.
The Women’s XVs Players’ Player of the Year will be contested by Aoife Wafer, who is also in contention for the Six Nations Player of the Championship, Brittany Hogan and scrumhalf Aoibheann Reilly, who shone in the XVs game after successfully transitioning from the 7s. Wafer’s nomination also extends to the Women’s XVs Young Player of the Year Award and Women’s XVs Try of the Year Award categories, where she is joined by 18-year-old Katie Corrigan.
In the Nevin Spence Men’s XVs Young Player of the Year category, it will be either Tom Ahern, Joe McCarthy, or last year’s champion, Jack Crowley, walking away with the award.
Megan Burns, who was a member of the gold-winning team in Perth, has been proposed as a candidate for Women’s 7s Players’ Player of the Year award. She is in the company of Beibhinn Parsons and the frequently honoured Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe. Terry Kennedy is also up for an award. After returning to 7s, he figures among the contenders for TritonLake Men’s 7s Player of the Year, together with Harry McNulty and Zac Ward.
The awards, organised by Rugby Players Ireland, are set to be held at Ballsbridge’s The Clayton Hotel on the 22nd of May. The night’s ceremonial hosts are Barry Murphy and Andrew Trimble, both ex-rugby players. Keith Earls will also be there as he is set to be honoured with the Zurich Irish Contribution to Society Award.
Contenders for the BDO Ireland Men’s XVs Players’ Player of the Year include Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson-Park, and Dan Sheehan. Brittany Hogan, Aoibheann Reilly, and Aoife Wafer are up for the Strata Financial Women’s XVs Players’ Player of the Year award.
The Nevin Spence Men’s XVs Young Player of the Year award has Tom Ahern, Jack Crowley, and Joe McCarthy on its shortlist. Katie Corrigan, Dannah O’Brien and Aoife Wafer are competing for the Energia Women’s XVs Young Player of the Year title.
The MSL Mercedez-Benz Ballsbridge Men’s XVs Try of the Year nominees are Craig Casey (v Leinster), James Lowe (v Scotland), and Calvin Nash (v France). Competing for the AIB Corporate Banking Women’s XVs Try of the Year award are Katie Corrigan (v Italy and v Wales) and Aoife Wafer (v Wales).
Lastly, Triton Lake Men’s 7s Player of the Year nominees include Terry Kennedy, Harry McNulty, and Zac Ward. Megan Burns, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, and Beibhinn Parsons are being considered for the Triton Lake Women’s 7s Player of the Year award.