Rob picks up players’ award

Rob Kearney’s stellar season for Leinster and Ireland earned the full-back the recognition of his peers last night when he received the Irish Rugby Union Players’ Association’s Players’ Player of the Year award for 2012.

Kearney topped the IRUPA poll of his fellow professionals to head off fellow nominees Stephen Ferris of Ulster and Munster fly-half Ronan O’Gara at last night’s 10th IRUPA Rugby Players’ Awards dinner at Dublin’s Burlington Hotel.

Kearney, who missed most of last season with a knee injury that forced him to sit out Leinster’s Heineken Cup final success 12 months ago, has played an instrumental part in the province’s title defence.

Most recently he turned in what was an exhilarating performance in the thrilling semi-final victory over Clermont Auvergne in Bordeaux last month.

The full-back succeeds provincial team-mate and 2011 IRUPA winner Isa Nacewa as Ireland’s Players’ Player of the Year.

Munster back-row Peter O'Mahony was rewarded for his stellar season by picking up the Young Player of the Year award.