‘Honoured’ Bowe picks up third award from fellow pros

IRISH international Tommy Bowe last night completed a hat-trick of awards from his fellow players.

The Monaghan star, who rose to prominence with Ulster and Ireland before continuing his development with Ospreys, scooped the top individual award at last night’s Magners League celebration dinner in Cardiff when the players voted him their Best Player of the Tournament for last season.

It is the third honour bestowed on the Irish star by his peers following the professional players of both Ireland and Wales also naming the 26-year-old as their outstanding player of the 2009 / 2010 season.

Yet he responded to the latest accolade by promising to put last season behind him and look forward to a new challenge.

“It’s a great honour, but on a personal, club and national level, the 2009/10 season is now closed.

“This has to close the door on last year; in the Ospreys we have business to attend to and I have personal goals for myself and goals to achieve with my colleagues in Ireland,” he said.

The Magners League Coach of the Season award went to the hard working Paul Turner of Newport Gwent Dragons.

Ireland’s Michael Bradley, former national captain and more recently head coach with Connacht for seven seasons, was also feted when the Celtic rugby chairman paid tribute to his contribution to the development of the competition over seven seasons.

Bradley was head coach of Connacht Rugby for 138 games and is now believed to be in negotiations with more than one overseas club/franchise regarding continuing his career outside Ireland.

Bradley was flanked at last night’s dinner by former Connacht, Ireland and now Welsh coach Warrant Gatland and Bradley’s successor with the western province, Eric Elwood, who both paid tribute to the Corkman.

“Michael was a superb player with Munster and Ireland and he brought Connacht to a different level.

“Some of the results they secured in the Magners League and in Europe were absolutely amazing – it’s just a pity that they never got to finish it off with a trophy.”

Elwood, meanwhile, is looking forward to a new era but hasn’t forgotten the legacy left by Bradley: “We worked very well as a team and he played a huge role in the development of Connacht rugby for which he won’t ever be forgotten,” said the former Irish out half.

Bradley himself kept it low key: “It’s a nice honour but this was about Connacht and not about me.”

Tim Visser, the young Edinburgh winger, won the Young Player of the Season award, prompted by the ten tries in he scored in 17 outings, with a Murrayfield hat-trick against the Ospreys.

However, the Try of the Season award fell to unlikely suspect Ken Owens, the Llanelli Scarlets hooker who scored spectacularly against Leinster at the RDS in February. Other efforts in the running came from: Shane Horgan, James Hook, Jim Thompson and Aled Brew.

Scottish player, Ali Kellock of Glasgow Warriors, took the title of Magners League Dream Team captain from Leinster’s Leo Cullen after played 12 games and leading his team to ten wins and one draw.

The eventual winners, The Ospreys, provided four of the Dream Team and players from seven of the competing clubs provided players in the final 15.

Cardiff Blues won the Fair Play Award for the team with least players shown yellow or red cards.