D'Arcy named Player of the Year

Gordon D'Arcy has been named the Bank of Scotland (Ireland) Leinster Professional Player of the Year at an awards lunch in the Conrad Hotel Dublin.

Gordon D'Arcy was been named the Bank of Scotland (Ireland) Leinster Professional Player of the Year at an awards lunch in the Conrad Hotel Dublin.

D'Arcy adds this achievement to last month's IRUPA Player's Player of the Year in what has been a remarkably consistent season for province and country.

He commented: "It's great to get any award, and it's especially nice to get an award playing with such a high calibre of players as we have here in Leinster.

"I've enjoyed some good moments over the last year. Beating Munster and Ulster in front of record attendances at Lansdowne Road were special.

"Given the way that we've played for the majority of the season, and some of the tries we've scored, I think we're really getting to grips of the brand of rugby that the coaches are trying to implement and I genuinely believe the future bodes well for the province."

Meanwhile, the once-capped Luke Fitzgerald has been awarded the Powerade Newcomer of the Year award after a meteoric rise from Schools rugby.

Recently retired Leinster stalwart Reggie Corrigan received a Special Merit award to mark an outstanding career in which he earned 47 Ireland caps and made 139 Leinster appearances, a provincial record.