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
A record fifteen Ireland players have been included in the British & Irish Lions squad for the upcoming 2025 tour to Australia. Ten of the Irish contingent are first-time Lions, meaning Andy Farrell’s announcement was especially momentous for Dan Sheehan, Rónan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, Garry Ringrose, Hugo Keenan, James Lowe and Mack Hansen. Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan and Bundee Aki will go on their second tour, while Andrew Porter – who made the initial cut in 2021 before missing out through injury – will be especially motivated to make on impact on this tour.
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.
Tackle Your Feelings
TYF kicked off it’s 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 jounrey 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 Responsibily project which is led by the European Athletes and Players’ Assocation (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.
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.
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