Paul O’Connell ‘honoured’ by Player of the Year award

Paul O’Connell was lifting trophies again last night as the Ireland captain was voted the Hibernia College IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year 2015 by his fellow professionals.

O’Connell also took home the Newstalk Supporters’ Player of the Year 2015 award from the 13th annual awards ceremony, staged by the Irish Rugby Union Players Association as players and fans united in their acknowledgement of a campaign which saw the Munster legend win his 100th Test cap against Wales in March then a week later lift the RBS 6 Nations trophy for the second season in a row.

O’Connell was then named RBS 6 Nations Player of the Championship but it was last night’s Payers’ Player award that could well have meant most to the 35-year-old second row, particularly with his retirement pending, potentially as early as the end of the World Cup this October 31.