Leinster quartet take on Aki for player of year prize

Ireland’s Bundee Aki 

Leinster quartet Caelan Doris, Hugo Keenan, Johnny Sexton, and Andrew Porter have been nominated for the 2023 Guinness Rugby Writers Men’s XV’s Player of the Year Award. They are joined by World Rugby Player of the year nominee Bundee Aki on the shortlist.

As well as sealing a Grand Slam with Ireland in 2023, the Leinster four reached the final of this season's Champions Cup. 

Having endured a difficult year of results on the field, there is some consolation for Women's player nominees Sam Monaghan, Nichola Fryday, Neve Jones, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, and Aoife Dalton. After a disappointing Six Nations campaign, the team enjoyed a better end to the season by winning the inaugural WXV3 tournament in Dubai in October.

Team of the year is between the Ireland men's XV, Munster, Ireland U20s and the Ierland men's and women's sevens teams. The five vie for the Dave Guiney Team of the Year accolade. 

A four Grand Slam title got the men's year off to the perfect start, eventually bowing out to New Zealand narrowly in the World Cup quarter-final. The Ireland U20s team won their fifth Grand Slam and reached the U20 World Cup Final.

Munster took home URC silverware for the first time in 12 years, pulling off three successive away victories in the quarter Final, semi final and final, where they overcame the Stormers in South Africa.

The Ireland women’s 7s team had a historic season securing qualification for Paris 2024, while the Irish men’s 7’s secured their Olympic spot, having picked up bronze in the Rugby 7s World Cup. 

Nominees for Ireland men’s 7s Player of the year are Mark Roche, Harry McNulty, and Jack Kelly. The Women’s 7’s Player of the Year nominees see last year’s winner Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe returning to the shortlist alongside teammates Lucy Mulhall and Emily Lane.