Two days after Ulster clinched top spot at the end of the regular season with a convincing 32-17 home win over Cardiff Blues, two of their stand-out players of the season so far were honoured at a star-studded occasion at the Clontarf Castle Hotel.
Both men had already been named in the RaboDirect PRO12 Dream Team for the season last week and Williams scooped the ‘Players’ Player of the Year’ award for his outstanding back row contribution to Ulster’s march into the Play-Off’s.
Marshall picked up the ‘Young Player of the Year’ title after not only breaking into the Ulster side, but also into the Irish national team. After four seasons playing in the competition at Munster and Aironi Rugby, Williams headed to Belfast this winter and revealed his full array of talents as he scored six tries in 16 appearances in the RaboDirect PRO12.
At times unstoppable on the charge, he has won seven man-of-the-match awards this season.
The New Zealand No 8 beat British & Irish Lions flanker Justin Tipuric and Glasgow Warriors’ Fijian scrum half Niko Matawalu to the title.
He follows in the footsteps of Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Ruan Piennar (Ulster Rugby) and Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby) in picking up the prestigious award.
Marshall had only started five games for Ulster in the RaboDirect PRO12 before this season, yet he grew into the centre role and not only played 11 times, but also won three caps in the RBS 6 Nations.
The 22-year-old struck a great partnership with Darren Cave in the Ulster midfield and earned rave reviews throughout the campaign for his tough defence, good distribution and eye for a gap.
He beat Cardiff Blues outside half Rhys Patchell and Connacht Rugby full back Robbie Henshaw to the title and follows in the footsteps of Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby), Toby Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons) and Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) as the RaboDirect PRO12 ‘Young Player of the Year’.
It was a good night for Ulster, who host the Scarlets in the first of the two Play-Off matches at Ravenhill on Friday night, as the Province also scooped the try of the year award.
Andrew Trimble was judged to have scored the best try of the season for his score against Connacht at the Sportsground last month.
Ulster also secured the Fair Play award and a £10,000 cheque to put towards youth development after winning the ‘Specsavers Fair Play Award’ for having the fewest yellow and red cards and citings over the 22 games – a mere six yellows.
RABODIRECT PRO12 AWARD WINNERS 2012/13
PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE SEASON - Nick Williams (Ulster Rugby)
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE SEASON - Luke Marshall (Ulster Rugby)
COACH OF THE SEASON - Gregor Townsend (Glasgow Warriors)
CHAIRMAN’S AWARD - Michael Swift (Connacht Rugby)
RHINO GOLDEN BOOT - Ian Madigan (Leinster Rugby)
RHINO COLLISION KINGS - Scarlets
SPECSAVERS FAIRPLAY AWARD - Ulster Rugby
RABODIRECT STRAIGHT TALKING AWARD - Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys)
TRY OF THE SEASON – Andrew Trimble (Ulster Rugby)