Munster pause to honour their own

THERE are still a number of big games to go, but sitting in second position in the Magners League with only three rounds remaining, and with a Heineken Cup semi-final place secured, it’s already been a good year for Munster rugby.

The fact they are still very much alive and fighting on two fronts is down to another massive squad effort, injuries and international duties taken in stride, someone always ready and able to step into the breach.

On Sunday May 9, a week after that Heineken Cup date in San Sebastian with Biarritz, the fourth annual Munster Rugby Awards, in association with the Irish Examiner, will take place at Thomond Park, and four members of that squad have been nominated by their peers for the prestigious Munster Player of the Year award.

In alphabetical order, they are:

Keith Earls – a lethal attacker, becoming a destructive tackler, the Limerick prodigy (still only 22) is comfortable in any of the outside back positions, as he showed last Saturday in the win over Northampton. Has played 11 competitive games for Munster this year, seven in Heineken Cup, four in Magners League, and has scored three tries.

Denis Fogarty – hooker who stepped manfully into the breach in the absence of Jerry Flannery, played a total of 18 games (five Heineken Cup, 13 Magners League, including eight starts), scored two tries; both of those came in the Heineken Cup, the second in the crucial away win over Perpignan. Magnificent in the loose with good burst of pace and light feet for a big man.

Mick O’Driscoll – when neither Paul O’Connell nor Ronan O’Gara is around, Mick takes over as captain, a measure of the esteem in which the big but very athletic second row is held by both the management and his team-mates; 17 competitive starts, three in Heineken Cup, including one start, in the big win over Northampton in Thomond Park last Saturday. A leader, a warrior.

David Wallace – like Keith Earls, has made 11 appearances for Munster this season, seven in the Heineken Cup, and like Earls again, another versatile player, comfortable in any of the back-row positions, though he has now made the number seven shirt his own. Four tries this season, two in the Heineken Cup, two in the league. Superb athlete, one of several individuals in the Munster pack giving the lie to the myth that an athlete is finished at 30.

THE professionals won’t be the only ones being honoured on the night. There will also be recognition of the great work being done in rugby at schools and club level in Munster, both on and off the pitch, with 11 categories in all, including Young Player of the Year, up-and-coming Academy talent, women’s rugby and referees (an often forgotten element of the game, but George Clancy and Peter Fitzgibbon, both recently named to the international panel, came through the provincial system – its own prestigious measure of success). Top award, however, will be the professional player of the year; any of the four nominees would be a worthy recipient.

The Irish Examiner will be running a competition in the build-up to the awards, asking readers to vote for Munster’s player of the year. Prizes include tickets to attend the awards evening, as well as the chance for a class to tour Thomond Park.

All funds raised will go towards the running of and development of the Munster Rugby Academy.

Munster Rugby are offering a number of packages, with bookings being taken now on a first come, first served basis, with full payment in advance guaranteeing the booking.

Prices in the Gold category have remained the same as last year, with those who wish to purchase the Silver category availing of a reduction on last year’s prices.