News

Highlights: May 2026

One Day Like This

It was a day to remember at the Aviva Stadium as we joined over 31,000 people in cheering on Erin King and her Irish teammates on a historic day in Dublin. A record crowd for a standalone women’s fixture in Ireland witnessed a dominant Irish display with seven first-half tries (including a special effort from local girl Stacey Flood) heightening the party atmosphere. 

Rugby Players Ireland Awards 2026

Barry Murphy and Andrew Trimble were back for a fifth consecutive year to host the Rugby Players Ireland Awards at the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road. Despite two European finals taking place over the following days, there was still plenty of stardust in the room as players came together to recognise the achievements of their peers. 

In addition to our Award winners, we took the opportunity to formally present Tadhg Beirne with his Players’ Player of the Year Award from 2025, while the likes of Mack Hansen, Anna McGann (who was prize sponsor on the evening), Jean Kleyn and Joshua Kenny also contributed to the evening. 

In a memorable moment, Andrew Trimble handed over to Barry Murphy, who performed “Alone You Stand” in tribute to Anthony Foley, marking both the 20th anniversary of Munster’s Heineken Cup triumph and the tenth anniversary of the captain’s passing.

OCC CONSULTING MEN’S XVs PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2026

Stuart McCloskey

Nominees: Tadhg Beirne, Jamison Gibson-Park, Dan Sheehan

OCC CONSULTING WOMEN’S XVs PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2026

Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald

Nominees: Eve Higgins, Brittany Hogan

NEVIN SPENCE MEN’S XVs YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2026

Bryn Ward

accepted by Wilhelm de Klerk

Nominees: Billy Bohan, Joshua Kenny

ENERGIA WOMEN’s XVs YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2026

Robyn O’Connor

Nominees: Dannah O’Brien, Katie Whelan

MERCEDES-BENZ BALLSBRIDGE MEN’S XVs TRY OF THE YEAR 2026

Rob Baloucoune (v Italy)

accepted by Tadhg Beirne

Nominees: Dan Kelly (v Glasgow Warriors), Tommy O’Brien (v Scotland #1)

AIB WOMEN’S XVs TRY OF THE YEAR 2026

Eve Higgins (v Japan)

Nominees: Robyn O’Connor (v Italy), Béibhinn Parsons (v Italy #3)

TRITONLAKE WOMEN’S 7s PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2026

Megan Burns

accepted by Kathy Baker

Nominees: Alana McInerney, Robyn O’Connor

ZURICH CONTRIBUTION TO IRISH SOCIETY AWARD 2026

Jack Carty

accepted by his dad, Ted

DRUIDS GLEN HOTEL & GOLF RESORT MOMENT ON THE YEAR 2026

Ireland Chasing down the Triple Crown accepted by Stuart McCloskey

Stripe Visit

Our sincerest thanks to former players Tom Daly and Cónan O’Donnell for their invite to Stripe headquarters in Dublin. Along with their colleagues, Tom and Cónan gave a number of players a very in-depth and transparent overview of their new working life with one of the world’s largest financial technology companies. 

Tackle Your Feelings

As the academic year drew to a close, a number of schools who has completed the TYF Schools Programme availed of a visit from a TYF Ambassador. 

As part of their contributions to our Tackle Your Feelings Europe project, Tipperary camogie player Clodagh McIntyre and Roscommon footballer Diarmuid Murtagh shared some of the challenges they face as elite athletes. 

Former player Ciarán Booth produced a cinematic bikepacking documentary through the west of Ireland. Supported by TYF, the film explores how the landscape has shaped the people of Connacht, and built resilience into its identity through hardship. It ultimately became a reflection of his playing time in Galway, mental health and why doing hard things is good for you. 

Ulster Rugby Farewells

Ulster Rugby announced that several players will depart the province at the end of the season. Among them is cult hero Werner Kok who joined the provinces from the Sharks in 2024. The former Blitzbok Sevens star has scored 12 tries in all competitions so far, and played a key role in Ulster’s attack this season.

Also departing are John Andrew and Dave Shanahan, who between them have made 241 appearances for Ulster.

Forwards Matthew Dalton, Marcus Rea, Rory McGuire, Bryan O’Connor and Sean Reffell will leave the Affidea Stadium after the expiry of their contracts, while Ben Moxham and James Humphreys will also depart.

Australia prop Angus Bell will return to the NSW Waratahs after his short-term deal to stay in Belfast comes to an end.

Academy players Sam Berman, Wilhelm De Klerk, Ethan Graham, Lukas Kenny and Josh Stevens will also leave at the end of the season.

Connacht Rugby Farewells

The Connacht Rugby faithful has the opportunity to say goodbye to their departing players following the province’s galvanising win over Munster Rugby.

It was particularly notable to watch Jack Carty pause for a brief moment before he kicked the ball dead on his final outing in Galway. The out-half will retire at the end of the season as the record points scorer for the province.

Also leaving are Peter Dooley, Jack Aungier, Denis Buckley, David Hawkshaw, Oisin Heffernan, Joe Joyce, Matthew Devine and Chay Mullins. 

Munster Rugby Farewells

Retiring duo John Ryan and Niall Scannell said farewell to Thomond Park in Munster’s win over the Lions in Thomond. Scannell was also involved in the resulting URC quarter-final clash with the Bulls in Pretoria. However, a heavy defeat in Pretoria brought the province’s season to an end. This outcome also marked the end of Jean Kleyn‘s ten-year spell with the club. The World Cup winning Springbok will link up with Gloucester Rugby next season but says Munster Rugby ‘has been more than a club to me – it has been a family, a home, and a place I’ve grown.’

Beyond the Game

Our thanks to Dr Emmett Byrne, Shane Jennings and Kevin McLaughlin who joined Dr Deirdre Lyons at Leinster Rugby for a discussion on their experiences out of professional sport. Each had a number of unique takes!