JOHNNY SEXTON IS one of four Leinster players nominated for the 2023 Guinness Rugby Writers Men’s Player of the Year award, along with Bundee Aki, a nominee for the World Rugby equivalent this year.
Sexton, Caelan Doris, Hugo Keenan and Andrew Porter are the nominees from Champions Cup finalists Leinster, with Connacht’s Aki completing the shortlist for the award.
Ireland’s World Cup exit at the quarter-final stage in October brought the curtain down on Sexton’s glittering playing career, while earlier in the season he had captained Ireland in March when they completed the Six Nations Grand Slam with their 29-16 victory over England.
The women’s award nominees are Sam Monaghan, Nichola Fryday, Neve Jones, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, and Aoife Dalton, who topped their season by winning the inaugural WXV3 tournament in Dubai last October.
Nominees have also been announced today for the Team of the Year, the Men’s 7′s award and the Women’s award.
Here’s the full list of nominees:
2023 Guinness Rugby Writers Award Nominees
- Men’s Player of the Year
- Bundee Aki
- Caelan Doris
- Hugo Keenan
- Johnny Sexton
- Andrew Porter
- Women’s Player of the Year
- Sam Monaghan
- Nichola Fryday
- Neve Jones
- Deirbhile Nic a Bháird
- Aoife Dalton
- Dave Guiney Team of the Year
- Ireland senior men’s XV
- Munster men’s XV
- Ireland U20s
- Ireland women’s 7s
- Ireland men’s 7s
- Men’s 7’s Player of the Year
- Mark Roche
- Harry McNulty
- Jack Kelly
- Women’s 7’s Player of the Year
- Emily Lane
- Lucy Mulhall
- Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe
No interest in the game now but was a Newcastle fan at the time and have to say it’s hilarious to hear Shearer say that as you could practically see him shaking when Keane squared up to him.
@Guybrush Threepwood: Fun times
its boring now
@Anton Friendo: Yeah that type of game died out in the absence of the likes of Keane, Gatusso, De Jong etc. unfortunately..
@Guybrush Threepwood: It was the norm in school to support English soccer. Enlightenment happens only when you leave the education system.
If you read craig bellamys autobiography, he played in that game , he said Shearer was the last one off the pitch at the end of the game because he knew Keane was waiting for him
@Niall Browne: Bellamy is going to say that isn’t he? Seeing as Shearer battered him in Dawson St when they were over here. Bad mouthed him too when he thought a transfer away from St James Park was happening. Nearly shit himself when it fell through and he had to show up there for training.
@Gerry Ivie: it was Keith Gillespie that Shearer punched in Dublin.
Probably a lot bias here. Both great players and true warriors representing their respective teams. Love Keane but also like Shearer for being a great number 9. Hope Kane breaks his record though!
Grown ups arguing about one man’s ability to beat up another when the know neither and have never seen either actually fight.
The level of cringe is spine tingling.
@Gustave H: I don’t think anyone is arguing here. Everyone seems to be in agreement that Shearer looked genuinely afraid of Keane during that particular confrontation. Which was understandable to an extent, because Keane’s lack of self control and reckless abandon was rarely more evident than during that game.
Funny considering that you could visibly see the point when Shearer sh*t himself at the time
You wouldn’t have had it in you Alan. Stick to throwing balls at him from a safe distance you coward.
@Stonerpug: it was Keane who threw the ball as well as the punch. Shearer did the smart thing and stood there while Roy had a meltdown and got himself sent off in the last minute for no reason.
@The Bloody Nine: You are 100% Correct.Shearer was too smart for that nonsense