Contepomi, Leamy and O'Connell up for players' award

IRUPA (The Irish Rugby Union Players Association) today announced its nominations for the BT IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year.

Amongst the favourites to land the BT IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year are Munster duo Paul O’Connell & Denis Leamy, and the talismatic Argentinean Felipe Contepomi

A total of five awards will be presented at the BT IRUPA Awards ceremony, which will take place on Wednesday May 3 at the Burlington Hotel, Dublin.

Mark McHugh, chairman of IRUPA said: “Winning an award voted for by those who you play and compete against is the best tribute for any rugby player. This awards ceremony will celebrate those players who dominated the season but will also raise much needed funds for the IRUPA Injured Players Fund.”

BT IRUPA PLAYERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2006

Felipe Contepomi (Leinster)

Denis Leamy (Munster)

Paul O’Connell (Munster)

IRUPA CLUB ENERGISE SPORT UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR 2006

Neil Best (Ulster)

Mick O’Driscoll (Munster)

David Wallace (Munster)

IRUPA TYRONE CRYSTAL TRY OF YEAR 2006

Denis Hickie (Toulouse v Leinster)

Shane Horgan (England v Ireland)

Barry Murphy (Munster v Sale)

IRUPA GREEN GIANT NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR 2006

Rob Kearney (Leinster)

Barry Murphy (Munster)

Andrew Trimble (Ulster)