Easterby, D'Arcy and O'Connell vie for award

Simon Easterby, Gordon D'Arcy and Paul O'Connell are the front runners to land the O2 IRUPA Players' Player of the Year Award.

The second O2 Irish Rugby Union Players' Association Rugby Players Awards will take place on Wednesday May 19 at the Burlington Hotel, Dublin.

The awards celebrate the achievements of the players over the season in both domestic and international rugby.

All the leading players from all four provinces have voted for the awards, thus making them the most unique award a player can receive.

Amongst the favourites to land the top award, the O2 IRUPA Players' Player of the Year are Llanelli's Simon Easterby, Gordon D'Arcy and Paul O'Connell.

Niall Woods, CEO of IRUPA, said, "Being voted best player by your peers is the highest accolade for all sportspeople.

"This awards ceremony will celebrate an outstanding year for Irish rugby and also raise much needed funds for the IRUPA Injured Players Fund."

Meanwhile the IRUPA Hooke & MacDonald Unsung Hero Award will be presented to a player who has consistently performed at a high level but has not received the recognition they fully deserve.

Up for this award are Mike Mullins from Munster, the versatile Connacht back Mark McHugh and Llanelli's Simon Easterby.

Votes are also mounting for the newly introduced O2 IRUPA People's Player of the Year award.

This award category gives the public the opportunity to vote for their player of the year. Votes are registered by texting vote followed by the players name to 51101.

Nominations:

O2 IRUPA Players Player of the Year

Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster)

Simon Easterby (Llanelli)

Paul O'Connell (Munster)

IRUPA Hooke & MacDonald Unsung Hero Award

Simon Easterby (Llanelli)

Mark McHugh (Connacht)

Mike Mullins (Munster)

IRUPA Barker Insurance Hall of Fame

Paddy Johns (Ulster, Saracens & Ireland)

Keith Wood (Munster, Harlequins, Ireland & Lions)

IRUPA Tyrone Crystal Try of the Year

Girvan Dempsey (Ireland v England)

Marcus Horan (Munster v Stade Francais)

Scott Young (Ulster v Munster)

IRUPA OB Sports Young Player of the Year

Tommy Bowe(Ulster)

Brendan Burke (Leinster)

Conor McPhilips (Connacht)

IRUPA O2 People's Player of the Year

Voting still open.