Andrew Trimble Voted Irupa Players' Player Of The Year 2014

Ulster and Ireland winger Andrew Trimble has been voted the Hibernia College IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year 2014 by his fellow players at the 12th annual awards ceremony.  

Trimble has had a stand out season for both Ireland and Ulster.  He started all of Ireland’s 6 Nations games, scoring three tries along the way.  The prestigious award counts as Andrew’s third IRUPA Award overall. He won the Young Player of the Year in 2006 and Try of the Year in 2010.  The Award comes only days after Trimble was recognised as the Bank of Ireland Ulster Player of the Year.

He was delighted to receive the award saying: “It is an honour to be recognised with this award, especially as it’s voted for by the players.  It’s been a great season and this really tops it all off”.  As well as the honour of being Player of the Year, Andrew and all the winners receive a Tissot watch kindly provided by Tissot and Fields Jewellers.    

Connacht and Ireland’s Robbie Henshaw was awarded the Nevin Spence Young Player 2014 for the second year in succession, marking the first time a player has won back to back awards in any category in the 12 year history of the awards.
 
The VW Try of the Year went to Rob Kearney for his intercept try against New Zealand during Ireland’s heartbreaking defeat to the Rugby Championship holders in the Autumn International Series.

Joining Ireland’s heroes in the BNY Mellon IRUPA Hall of Fame was Ulster and Ireland prop Simon Best.  Munster’s James Coughlan collected the O2 Unsung Hero Award, voted for by the public on the O2 Ireland Facebook and Twitter accounts. Devin Toner was presented with the Newstalk106-108fm Supporters Player of the Year as chosen by listeners of Off the Ball.

Leinster’s Shane Jennings was awarded the Hibernia College Medal for Excellence, which rewards on field effort combined with off field commitment to the game.  Nominees were voted by their peers but were also judged on their contribution to the sport through community involvement, education, work and charitable initiatives.

Three new awards were presented this year; the Boardmatch Contribution to Society, was presented to Donncha O’Callaghan in recognition of the significant impact made to society through his work with Unicef.  The inaugural BNY Mellon Women’s Sevens Player of the Year 2014 as voted by members of the Sevens squad was presented to Nicole Cronin for her consistent performances during the qualification tournaments for the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016.  In a season of standout performances and memories, members of the public voted Ireland’s 6 Nations title win as the Powerscourt Hotel Rugby Moment of the Year via Twitter.  The award was collected by Gordon D’Arcy and Ireland team Manager, Michael Kearney.
 
Omar Hassanein, CEO of IRUPA said:  “I am really pleased for Andrew, he has forced his way back in to the national team with a bang, and this award is a superb reflection of the stellar season he has enjoyed with Ireland and Ulster Rugby.  Winning an IRUPA award is the highest honour a player can receive in this country, Andrew and all the winners and nominees should be congratulated for the high recognition they have received amongst their peers.”

Dr. Sean Rowland, President and founder of Hibernia College said: ‘Hibernia College have formed a very strong relationship with IRUPA, providing scholarship opportunities to players through a combination of flexible online learning approaches and internationally recognised academic programmes. It has been an excellent year for Irish Rugby and Hibernia College students Andrew Trimble, Michael Swift, TJ Anderson and Tommy Bowe. Andrew‘s success at the awards highlights the continuing need to design and provide flexible graduate and post-graduate programmes to meet the ever-changing needs of these individuals and their demanding lifestyles.’