Aki, Gibson-Park and Dan Sheehan on shortlist for players’ player of the year

Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson-Park and Dan Sheehan have been nominated for the Men’s XVs Players’ Player of the Year Award for 2024. The trio make for a particularly competitive shortlist for an award which was won by Caelan Doris last year.

Aki has previously been nominated for both Six Nations Player of the Championship and World Rugby Player of the Year on foot of his outstanding World Cup, and the 34-year-old Aki has been arguably enjoying his best season ever.

Having played every minute of Ireland’s World Cup, in which he scored five tries, Aki also played every minute of Ireland’s Six Nations-winning campaign, except for the win over Italy.

Similarly, the 32-year-old Gibson-Park has been enjoying his best campaign for province and country, becoming the heartbeat of both the Leinster and Irish sides in the post-Johnny Sexton era with his speed to the breakdown, ground coverage, vision and razor-sharp decision-making and execution.

The Counter Ruck: the rugby newsletter from The Irish Times

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Nominated for the second year in succession, Sheehan was an ever-present in Ireland’s Six Nations-winning campaign, finishing as the championship’s joint top try scorer with Scotland’s Duhan van der Merwe as well as playing a key part in Leinster’s progress to next weekend’s Champions Cup Final in London.

Aoife Wafer, nominated for the Six Nations Player of the Championship, fellow backrower Brittany Hogan and scrumhalf Aoibheann Reilly, who carried her good form from the 7s code into the XVs game, complete the shortlist for the Women’s XVs Players’ Player of the Year.

Wafer is also nominated for both the Women’s XVs Young Player of the Year Award and Women’s XVs Try of the Year Award, categories which also feature 18-year-old Katie Corrigan.

Tom Ahern, Joe McCarthy or last year’s winner Jack Crowley will be named as the Nevin Spence Men’s XVs Young Player of the Year.

As part of the side that claimed gold in Perth, Megan Burns has been nominated for the Women’s 7s Players’ Player of the Year alongside Beibhinn Parsons and multiple award winner Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe. Terry Kennedy’s return to the 7s set-up sees him back in the nominees list for TritonLake Men’s 7s Player of the Year which also features Harry McNulty and Zac Ward.

The Rugby Players Ireland awards will take place at The Clayton Hotel in Ballsbridge on May 22nd, hosted by former players Barry Murphy and Andrew Trimble. On the night Keith Earls will receive the Zurich Irish Contribution to Society Award.

BDO Ireland Men’s XVs Players’ Player of the Year: Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson-Park, Dan Sheehan

Strata Financial Women’s XVs Players’ Player of the Year: Brittany Hogan, Aoibheann Reilly, Aoife Wafer

Nevin Spence Men’s XVs Young Player of the Year: Tom Ahern, Jack Crowley, Joe McCarthy

Energia Women’s XVs Young Player of the Year: Katie Corrigan, Dannah O’Brien, Aoife Wafer

MSL Mercedez-Benz Ballsbridge Men’s XVs Try of the Year: Craig Casey (v Leinster), James Lowe (v Scotland), Calvin Nash (v France)

AIB Corporate Banking Women’s XVs Try of the Year: Katie Corrigan (v Italy), Katie Corrigan (v Wales), Aoife Wafer (v Wales)

Triton Lake Men’s 7s Player of the Year: Terry Kennedy, Harry McNulty, Zac Ward

Triton Lake Women’s 7s Player of the Year: Megan Burns, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Beibhinn Parsons