FOUR IRISH INTERNATIONALS — James Ryan, Peter O’Mahony, Tadhg Beirne and Jack Carty — have all been nominated and will battle it out for the 2019 Zurich Players’ Player of the Year Award.
O’Mahony and Beirne come as Munster’s representatives on the shortlist for the prestigious accolade while Ryan and Carty fly the flag for Leinster and Connacht respectively.
22-year-old James Ryan has excelled for both country and province this year, establishing himself as one of the best second rows in the world, while O’Mahony has been immense in the green jersey and in leading Munster to the Champions Cup final.
Likewise, Beirne and Carty’s stars continue to rise with the former enjoying a brilliant season with the southern province and a first Ireland cap, and the latter becoming Connacht’s record points scorer after also making his international debut.
“It’s an honour to be nominated by my fellow players for the 2019 Zurich Players’ Player of the Year Award,” Ryan said. “Pete, Tadgh and Jack have all enjoyed excellent campaigns and it has been a pleasure to share time with them in Irish camp.
“We have had some fantastic moments this year including that unforgettable win over the All Blacks in Dublin, but we have also learned many lessons along the way.
“It’s important to recognise and celebrate achievement but we’re also looking forward to some important games in our season still to come.”
Ryan has also been nominated for the Nevin Spence Young Player of the Year Award alongside Leinster’s Jordan Larmour and Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale, in a repeat of last year’s shortlist line-up.
Larmour, Stockdale and Keith Earls will contest the Volkswagen Try of the Year Award.
Elsewhere, Anna Caplice, Eimear Considine and XV captain Ciara Griffin have been nominated for the BNY Mellon Women’s XV Player of the Year 2019, as voted by the players.
Kerry native Louise Galvin joins previous winners Lucy Mulhall (2018) and Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (2016 and 2017) on the shortlist for the iZest Women’s 7s Player of the Year, while Jordan Conroy, Terry Kennedy and Adam Leavy got head-to-head for the AIB Men’s 7s Player of the Year.
Retiring Ulster star Darren Cave and Leinster duo Rhys Ruddock and James Tracy have also been put forward by their peers for the Vodafone Medal for Excellence — an award to the individual who has shown exceptional commitment to the game of rugby both on and off the field.
The Zurich Irish Rugby Players Awards will take place on Wednesday, 15 May, at the Clayton Hotel in Ballsbridge.
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All four have been immense for their respective provinces, the progression of Carty especially has been very impressive. The two Munster lads have so many motm awards between them this season but the consistency of Ryan for both club and country at such a young age is freakish, he’s already a leader of any team he plays in, he would get my vote.
Considering Ireland performances count for a lot, it has to be Ryan. POM went missing in a couple of big matches in an otherwise excellent season. Ryan’s stats, even in difficult days for Ireland (England, Wales) are off the charts. I have a feeling he’s a little bit taken for granted but he’s possibly the best forward we have ever had in Ireland (even at his age). He’s phenomenal in every respect and let’s hope it’s the start of many such awards in years to come.
Carty has had a great season, and I wonder we’re he’ll fit in Farrell’s plans from next year.
Jack Carty for me. Hes had an outstanding season for Connacht and has got capped 3 times.
@jay bernard: Currently the 5th choice Irish outhalf according to the lads on EirSport. Behind even Madigan in their eyes.
And you wonder why some Connacht and Ulster fans have a chip on their shoulder with the “meedja” about being overlooked or an after thought.
@David Hickey: That sounds like something only Luke Fitzgerald could claim
@David Hickey: and Eir sport is the bible to rugby is it? Ive watched Carty play the last 3 years and up to the start of this season he was average…missed key cons and penalties…but this season hes just improved so much. Scored some great tries and kicked really well off the tee.
@David Hickey: The media aren’t picking the team and there’s no chance Schmidt and Farrell are making any calls based on Off The Ball or Eirsport. Those pundits are paid for their opinion. They’re not there to pander to disgruntled provincial fans.
@grandslamkbo: “They’re not there to pander to disgruntled provincial fans.” Certainly not. If that’s what you got from that. I was simply making the observation, that a panel of people who are paid for their opinion on Irish rugby seem to be so far off from the opinion of current coaches, the players, and, by the looks of here, the fans.
@Rochelle: The panel, maybe 2/3 weeks ago, put together a poll to see who should be 2nd choice after Sexton. The options, put forward after their discussion, were Carberry, Byrne, Madigan, and A. N. Other.
@David Hickey: The same Madigan who the 2nd choice FH for Bristol!
Carty has had the best season relative to where he was at the start of the season. Most improved player, if you will. And long may it continue. But he hasn’t been the best player in the country. Ryan by a distance for me followed by POM.
Beirne should get it for his try last weekend alone. There aren’t too many forwards in world rugby who can step a winger and score a try like that and he’s probably the only lock capable of doing it.
In all seriousness though I’d give it to Ryan. He’s mr consistent, always puts in a good shift and always has a good game. Reminds me of robin Brooke for those old enough to remember the nz team of the 90s
@Jim Demps: that step that seems to have ruined Anthony Watson’s career when he was at Scarlets was class.
Ryan for me. Massive every time.
Ryan for me he’s hands down the best rugby player in Ireland.
Good to see three Leinster players being nominated
@Bungee Aky: 4 surely? After all nothing happens in Irish rugby without Leo Cullen and the D4 massive giving the ok.
@Leo Erah: next time you see Peter you can inform him that he is a leinster player, and tell him how lucky he is to be one. Let me know how you get on.
@Bungee Aky: Pete’s a Neighbour and I also coached him before. He’d be the first man to say that Irish rugby’s success is purely down to Leinster and the rest of the rugby playing country are just overwhelmed with gratitude for you goys
@Leo Erah: I’m not sure what’s more embarrassing; that you actually thought the OP is a Leinster fan or that you used “goys”. It isn’t like there’s no word like that down in Munster, is there? Ah yeah, fellas are really their hands up for selection. Fellas are doing their best and other fellas want the jersey..it’s good to see the young fellas coming through to learn off the fellas who’ve been there for ages. Them fellas….
@Leo Erah: sure he would, everything Munster ever won is down to what Leinster have done. Sure thing
@grandslamkbo: spot on fella.
@Bungee Aky: 2 Leinster. Carty is from Roscommon.
Carty for me he’s been sensational.
You kind of have to go for Ryan. No one was on his level this year. O’Mahony is up there as well.
Peter is deserving of it but hard to argue if Jack Carty gets it after a fantastic season.
@Rochelle: Wow shock horror the anti Leinster troll picked 2 that aren’t Ryan
@Baz Dunne: or the other guy that’s from Leinster. I all honesty I wouldn’t argue if POM, Beirne or Ryan won. Carty as good as he has been, has not reached the levels of the other 3
@William Finnegan: in the league in the last season he has.
@William Finnegan: Neither Beirne nor Carty have played (one exception, v Wales) at the level of Ryan or POM so they couldn’t be at their level.
Ryan is absurdly good – so good, we take his excellence game after game come normal. He’s phenomenally good.
When a potentially good young player comes along, his ego sometimes gets ahead of him & he tries to ‘stand out’. Itoje a good ex here – he has potential, but his ego means he makes several stupid mistakes in every game and his youtube moments don’t compensate for these. Ryan has no ego in that sense, and concentrates on excelling at every facet of the game and stands out, precisely, because he doesn’t attempt to stand out. His temperament is or seems to be equally good. He’s something else.
Some of these guys havr gone missing in big games, especially in Europe. Persobally, I thnk Ringrose has been the best Irish player over the past year.
I get Ruddock and Cave for the medal for excellence but struggle with Tracey.
Will get abuse for this but in my opinion o Mahony has not had a near to enough good season to be up for this award. The only fantastic game he had was against the all blacks . Since then in my opinion in many games he hasn’t had any impact, as his Carries can be very inaffective
@Mark: I agree he’s being overrated THIS season but he played very well v Scotland or Italy (or perhaps both I think). But very poor v Wales and England.
There seems to be situations that suit him and those where he is rather anonymous but I don’t understand what brings these about.
@Andrew H: yes totally agree
James Ryan has to win it. Look what he has achieved over the last 2 years.