Craig Gilroy wins the best try award, but misses out on Pro12 Player of the Season gong

OSPREYS SCRUM-HALF Rhys Webb has been voted Pro12 Player’s Player of the Season, seeing off competition from Ulster’s Craig Gilroy and CJ Stander of Munster.

Players' Player of the Season: Rhys Webb. Ian Cook / INPHO Ian Cook / INPHO / INPHO

The 26-year-old was a central figure in the Welsh club’s return to play-off contention for the first time since they won the tournament in 2012.

Incredibly, the number nine managed to finish with 11 tries in 22 games, level with Gilroy as the league’s leading try-scorer. He understandably stayed away from this evening’s awards ceremony in Dublin to be with his new-born child, Jesse, born before Saturday’s win over Connacht.

Craig Gilroy and CJ stander get to grips with each other late last year. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Captains and vice captains of the Pro12 clubs voted for the awards and left Gilroy in runner-up spot along with Munster’s powerful South African number eight, Stander. However, the Ulster flier did claim the spoils from the public vote for Try of the Season for this jinking run through the Scarlets defence in February. The other contenders are here.

The Coach of the Season award deservedly went to Gregor Townsend after pushing his Glasgow Warriors to finish top of the league.

Young Player of the Year, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne of Edinburgh. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

The Young Player of the Season award also went to a scrum-half, Edinburgh’s Sam Hidalgo-Clyne receiving recognition for his breakthrough season both in the Pro12 and the Scotland national team.

Connacht were awarded the £10,000 prize that comes for the clocking up the fewest cards over the regular season. Another helpful jolt for development out west.

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