News

Highlights: May 2025

Rugby Players Ireland Awards 2025

Held at the Aviva Stadium for the first time, the Rugby Players Ireland Awards was attended by almost 800 people who all gathered to reflect on the 2024/25 season through the achievements of several standout performers. Many of our members were also there to both collect awards and celebrate the achievements of their peers. 

OCC CONSULTING MEN’S XVs PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Tadhg Beirne

accepted on his behalf by Finlay Bealham

Nominees: Caelan Doris, Tom Farrell, Jamison Gibson-Park

OCC CONSULTING WOMEN’S XVs PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Aoife Dalton

Nominees: Amee-Leigh Costigan, Niamh O’Dowd, Dorothy Wall

NEVIN SPENCE MEN’S XVs YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Sam Prendergast

Nominees: Gus McCarthy, Ben Murphy

ENERGIA WOMEN’s XVs YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Erin King

Nominees: Ruth Campbell, Aoife Dalton

MSL MERCEDES-BENZ BALLSBRIDGE MEN’S XVs TRY OF THE YEAR 2025

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Dan Sheehan (v England)

Nominees: Stewart Moore (v Stormers), Dan Sheehan (v Ulster Rugby)

AIB CORPORATE BANKING WOMEN’S XVs TRY OF THE YEAR 2025

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Anna McGann (v Italy)

Nominees: Amee-Leigh Costigan (v England), Linda Djougang (v Wales)

TRITONLAKE MEN’S 7s PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Dylan O’Grady

Nominees: Niall Comerford, Mark Roche

TRITONLAKE WOMEN’S 7s PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Lucinda Kinghan

Nominees: Hannah Clarke, Kate Farrell-McCabe

ZURICH CONTRIBUTION TO IRISH SOCIETY AWARD 2025

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Eimear Considine

DRUIDS GLEN HOTEL & GOLF RESORT MOMENT ON THE YEAR 2025

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Ireland’s Triple Crown Success accepted by Caelan Doris

British & Irish Lions

Our congratulations to all. 

Ireland Men’s Sevens

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Jan Perlich

In recent weeks the IRFU announced that the Men’s Sevens programme would draw to a close as part of a broader strategic effort to ensure long-term financial sustainability. 

Rugby Players Ireland responded to the news by expressing disappointment and vowing to step up support for affected players. 

Read the statement here. 

It follows further calls by International Rugby Players to ensure players are included in shaping the game’s direction. 

Tackle Your Feelings

TYF kicked off its 10 Year Anniversary celebrations with a gathering of the campaign’s friends at the Rugby Players Ireland Awards. The clip below gives us a brief snapshot of TYF’s journey to date… and where it intends to go! 

Player Development Programme

Aoife Lane and Gráinne Finnegan enjoyed a unique day out with Dublin Fire Brigade as they brought several players to the station for a glimpse into life as a firefighter/paramedic as part of Dublin Fire Brigade’s recent recruitment drive. 

Meanwhile, Pamela Gilpin and Dr Deirdre Lyons were on the other side of the planet as they attended the Elevate Player Development Conference in Auckland. The Elevate series is run by the World Players Association, who this month released its Best Practice Guidance for Maternity/Parental Policies in Sport.

PROtect Integrity

Simon Keogh, Finola Roache & Richard McElwee were in Madrid for a Train the Trainer workshop facilitated by EPIC Global Solutions as part of the PROTect Integrity Responsibly project which is led by the European Athletes and Players’ Association (EAPA) and funded by the European Commission. 

EAPA was also cited throughout the GPA’s Skorts v Shorts campaign, which Rugby Players Ireland was proud to support. 

Setting Standards

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Our congratulations to Aoife Wafer who was named as Guinness Six Nations Player of the Championship in a surprising reveal by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain. Aoife is the first Irish woman to win the award. 

In other award related news, the various provinces acknowledged their players of the seasons.

At the Leinster Rugby Awards, RG Snyman and Linda Djougang have been named as the recipients of the respective Player of the Year winners, while Sam Prendergast and Robyn O’Connor received the Young Player of the Year awards.

In Ulster, Nick Timoney was both the Men’s Player of the Year and Supporters’ Player of the Year, with Jacob Stockdale receiving the recognition of the Rugby Writers. Claire Boles was the Women’s Player of the Year, while James McNabney was the Young Player of the Year. 

Ben Murphy was the big winner at the Connacht awards as he scooped Men’s Player of the Year along with the Fans’ Award. Orla Dixon was named Women’s Player of the Year and Finn Treacy was named as Academy Player of the Year before his first professional deal was announced in the following days. 

Meanwhile, there was success for Ross Molony, Quinn Roux and Niall Annett as Bath Rugby won the Challenge Cup. Unfortunately, despite a prominent role throughout the Champions Cup campaign, Joey Carbery was not included in the winning Bordeaux Bégles matchday squad, 

Retirements

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

The Rugby Players Ireland Awards became David Kilcoyne‘s impromptu retirement party following the his recent retirement. Capped 56 times by Ireland, with 220 appearances for Munster Rugby, the prop has struggled with injury in recent seasons. 

Katie Heffernan has called time on her 9-year career. Having been a well established member of the Sevens programme, Katie was more increasingly involved with the XVs squads at both WXV and the recent Six Nations campaign. 

Former Leinster and Connacht prop Jamie Hagan also announced that he is bringing his career to an end.  Spanning 16-years and 278 professional games in seven clubs, four countries and two hemispheres, Jamie shared his personal reflections in a revealing interview with the Irish Independent. 

Read the interview here. 

Eoin O’Connor has announced his retirement from rugby. The former Munster Rugby player joined Exeter Chiefs in 2023. 

Niall Annett has announced his retirement from professional rugby and will return to his home province of Ulster to take up a new role as an Elite Player Development Officer. The 34-year-old hooker, now transitions into coaching after a career that began with Ulster in 2011 before moving to England where he enjoyed spells with Worcester Warriors and Bath Rugby – with whom recently won the Challenge Cup.

Former Ulster Rugby player Sam Carter has also announced his retirement from a 14-year career which included 50 appearances for the province. 

Lastly, following the cruellest of exits from the URC, Peter O’Mahony and Stephen Archer brought the curtain down on their respective careers. 

BKT United Rugby Championship, Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban, South Africa 31/5/2025
Hollywoodbets Sharks vs Munster
Stephen Archer of Munster leaves the field
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart