Reddan, Heaslip and Bowe up for awards

Scrum half Eoin Reddan, No.8 Jamie Heaslip and wing Tommy Bowe have been nominated for the IRUPA Players' Player of the Year for 2007/2008.

The award is one of five which will be announced at the BT IRUPA Rugby Players Awards on Wednesday April 23.

These are the only awards voted for by the players themselves and votes are cast from across all four provinces.

Niall Woods, Chief Executive of IRUPA said: "Winning an award voted for by players who you play and compete against is the best tribute for any rugby player.

"The awards ceremony not only celebrates those players who perform week in week out during the season, but will also raise much needed funds for the IRUPA Injured Players Fund."

Among the four other awards is the IRUPA Green Giant Newcomer of the Year Award, contested this year by a feast of talented players including Leinster's Cian Healy, who faces stiff competition from the talented Munster full back Denis Hurley and up-and-coming Ulster outhalf Niall O'Connor.

BT IRUPA PLAYERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2008.

Tommy Bowe (Ulster)

Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

Eoin Reddan (London Wasps)

IRUPA CLUB ENERGISE SPORT UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR 2008.

Rory Best (Ulster)

Andy Dunne (Connacht)

Niall Ronan (Munster).

IRUPA GREEN GIANT NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR 2008.

Cian Healy (Leinster)

Denis Hurley (Munster).

Niall O'Connor (Ulster).

IRUPA TYRONE CRYSTAL TRY OF YEAR 2008.

Tommy Bowe (Ireland v Scotland)

Rob Kearney (Ireland v Scotland)

Andrew Trimble (Ulster v Gloucester).