THE RUGBY WRITERS of Ireland have tonight named Andrew Trimble and Niamh Briggs as their male and female players of the year.
Briggs, centre, celebrates at the final whistle of the World Cup meeting with New Zealand. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
Briggs, a working Garda, wins the honour for the second year in a row having played a key role in Ireland women’s historic win over New Zealand during during the summer World Cup in France.
Her performances during Ireland’s march to the semi-final of the tournament also earned her an inclusion among the IRB’s World Player of the Year nominees.
Ulster wing Trimble was a stand-out performer throughout Ireland’s Championship-winning Six Nations campaign. The 30-year-old scored two tries during the tournament, including one in the decisive win over France in Paris.
Source: RBS 6 Nations/YouTube
”It’s a huge honour for me to receive the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Player of the Year Award. It’s always nice picking up an individual award like this, but I have to put it down to being part of such a successful Ireland team last season,” said Trimble, who also underlined his status as Ulster’s record try-scorer with six touchdowns.
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Among the other awards handed out tonight were the Team of the Year, won by Ireland’s Six Nations champion men. Clontarf FC were named Club of the Year, Hugo MacNeill was inducted into the Hall of Fame with 40 Ireland caps (and three for the Lions) to his name.
Fiona Coghlan, left, receives her jersey from Lynne Cantwell. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
The Tom Rooney award (for long-term contribution to Irish rugby) was awarded jointly to the coach and captain of Ireland’s national women’s team. Philip Doyle and Fiona Coghlan have both retired from their roles at the head of the international setup, Coghlan after 13 years of service and 85 caps.
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