Top Names In Shake Up For Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Player Of The Year

Ireland’s Rugby Players Association IRUPA today announced the nominations for Irish rugby’s ultimate accolade, the Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year. The award is one of seven which will be announced at the annual awards on Wednesday 4th May. These are the only awards voted for by the players themselves and votes are spread from across all four provinces.

In the running to land the much sought after Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year are Munster’s Keith Earls, Leinster’s dynamic back row Sean O’Brien and utility back Isa Nacewa, who is also nominated for the Volkswagen Try of the Year.

Brian O’Driscoll, Acting Chairman of IRUPA said, “Winning an IRUPA award, which is voted for by the players who you play with and against, is the best mark of respect for any rugby player. These awards celebrate not only those players, but also raise much needed monies for the IRUPA Injured Players Fund.”

Among the six other awards is the IRUPA Nature Valley Young Player of the Year Award, contested this year by a feast of talented players including Munster’s Conor Murray, Rhys Ruddock from Leinster and Ulster’s next centre prodigy Nevin Spence.

John Mulins, CEO, Bord Gáis said, “This is the third year of our sponsorship of the Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Awards and we’re really delighted to be involved again in what is the gala rugby event of the year. To be nominated and voted for by your peers and fellow players is a huge honour and recognition.

“IRUPA do a fantastic amount of work behind the scenes of Irish rugby and the support they receive from their members is testament to this and an acknowledgement of the importance of initiatives like the IRUPA Injured Players Fund.”

Rugby fans across Ireland can again vote for their Supporters’ Player of the Year 2011 on Newstalk106-108fm. Tune in Newstalk106-108fm from Monday April 25th to vote, and to be in with a chance to win a year’s supply of electricity from Bord Gáis Energy and also attend the event at the Burlington on Wednesday 4th May. The award will be presented to the winning player at the Bord Gáis Energy Awards.

A new award this year is the O2 Rugby Moment of the Year which singles out defining moments from the rugby season and will be voted for by the public via O2’s facebook page www.facebook/bethedifference

For more information, please contact:

Niall Woods
Navyblue consulting
M: +353 86 820 4747
Email: niall@navyblueconsulting.com

Stiofáin MacDháibhéad
Bord Gáis Energy
M: 087 7991206
Email: smacdhai@bordgais.ie

Claire Turvey
Pembroke Communications
T: 01-6496312
M: 087-9834851
Email: claire@pembrokecomms.ie

Notes to editors

Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Players' Player Of The Year 2011

Keith Earls Munster
Isa Nacewa Leinster
Sean O’Brien Leinster

IRUPA Nokia Unsung Hero Of The Year 2011

Willie Faloon Ulster
Wian du Preez Munster
Richard Strauss Leinster

IRUPA Nature Valley Young Player Of The Year 2011

Conor Murray Munster
Nevin Spence Ulster
Rhys Ruddock Leinster

IRUPA Volkswagen Try Of Year 2011

Fionn Carr Connacht v Scarlets Magners League
Craig Gilroy Ulster v Cardiff Magners League
Isa Nacewa Leinster v Leicester Heineken Cup

Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Hall Of Fame 2011

Recipient announced on Wednesday 27th April

O2 IRUPA Rugby Moment Of The Year 2011

Announced at the Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 4th May 2011

Bord Gáis Energy Supporters’ Player Of The Year 2011

The Supporters’ Player of the Year as voted by listeners of Newstalk106-108fm will be announced at the Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Awards on Wednesday 4th May 2011.

IRUPA

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