11 days ago
Players
Two Ulster players are among the nominees for the 2022 Rugby Players Ireland Awards.
Mike Lowry is on the shortlist for the Nevin Spence Men’s Young Player of the Year Award, while Neve Jones is in contention for the Whoop Women’s Young Player of the Year accolade.
European Player of the Year nominee, Lowry has had an outstanding season for Ulster, racking up points for the province in the United Rugby Championship and Heineken Champions Cup.
In a season in which he has repeatedly been named among the top players across both competitions, including for metres made and defenders beaten, Lowry also made his brace-scoring Ireland debut in this year’s Guinness Six Nations versus Italy.
🎙"𝙒𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜"⚡️🤩
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) March 14, 2022
Watch Mike Lowry highlights v Leinster here 👉 https://t.co/zj77aHeNXP pic.twitter.com/nZ9KmHwZnL
Neve Jones has had a superb season, starting in all five of Ireland’s TikTok Women’s Six Nations games – scoring two tries and topping Ireland’s table for turnovers won (6), and coming second for tackles made (79).
She received the TikTok Women’s Six Nations Player of the Match Award for her barnstorming performance in Ireland’s final game against Scotland at Kingspan Stadium a fortnight ago.
Scoring a try in front of your home crowd... #NothingLikeIt @Nevejones19 🔥pic.twitter.com/EzLy7CEc1K
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) April 30, 2022
The Rugby Players Ireland Awards will take place on Wednesday, May 18 at the Clayton Hotel in Ballsbridge.
ACCENTURE MEN’S 15s PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Caelan Doris (Leinster)
Mack Hansen (Connacht)
Hugo Keenan (Leinster)
Josh van der Flier (Leinster)
ACCENTURE WOMEN’S 15s PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Linda Djougang (ASM Romagnat Rugby)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union)
Sam Monaghan (Wasps)
NEVIN SPENCE MEN’S 15s YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Michael Lowry (Ulster)
Cian Prendergast (Connacht)
Dan Sheehan (Leinster)
WHOOP WOMEN’s 15s YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Eve Higgins (Railway Union)
Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury / Ulster)
Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College)
MSL MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIPS’ MEN’S 15s TRY OF THE YEAR
Caelan Doris – Ireland v New Zealand, Autumn Nations Cup
Mack Hansen – Connacht v Vodacom Bulls, United Rugby Championship
Mack Hansen – Ireland v France, Guinness Six Nations
iZEST MARKETING WOMEN’S 15s TRY OF THE YEAR
Eve Higgins – Ireland v France, TikTok Women’s Six Nations
Eve Higgins – Ireland v Italy, TikTok Women’s Six Nations
Lindsay Peat – Ireland v USA, Autumn International
AIB CORPORATE BANKING MEN’S SEVENS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Terry Kennedy
Bryan Mollen
Andrew Smith
TRITONLAKE WOMEN’S SEVENS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Eve Higgins
Lucy Mulhall
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe