Welsh award for Bowe

TOMMY Bowe wrapped up a remarkable double after scooping the Player of the Year award in Wales.

The Ireland wing was named for the accolade by the Welsh Rugby Players’ Association exactly a week after picking up the Irish title.

It is the first time a player has won the award on both sides of the Irish Sea. Bowe, 26, said: “It’s a great honour to win this award, especially as it was selected by fellow players. That makes it even more special.

“There have been plenty of ups and down this season with both Ireland and Ospreys. Losing in the Heineken Cup was a big blow but we’re in the Magners League Grand Final so there’s a great chance to end the season with silverware.”

Bowe, who has extended his contract with the Welsh region to 2013, beat Cardiff Blues pair Xavier Rush and Bradley Davies as well as Newport Gwent Dragons wing Aled Brew for the title at an awards dinner in Cardiff.

Ospreys captain Ryan Jones: “His understanding of the game is superb and for such a young guy he seems to have experienced it all. On the field he is incredibly brave, attacking wise he’s a fantastic finisher and defensively he is superb.

“He’s also a colourful character in the dressing room and is a bit of a name-dropper. Apparently he’s best mates with Bono.”

Bowe, who joined the Ospreys from Ulster in 2008, became only the second player in Heineken Cup history to score tries in all six pool games and he broke Shane Williams’ club record with 14 tries this season.

Ospreys coach Sean Holley said: “Tommy has that canny knack of scoring important tries in big games.

He’s a very good player who has excelled at the Ospreys.

“The only thing left now is for us to find him a celebrity girlfriend,” he added.

Fellow Ospreys wing Williams won the Try of the Season for his dramatic injury-time winner for Wales against Scotland. Dragons fly-half Jason Tovey was named Young Player of the Year.