Humbled Aki has been on 'quite a journey'

WINNER, WINNER: Bundee Aki. Pic: Ben Brady, Inpho

Nichola Fryday and Bundee Aki’s stellar performances in 2023 were recognised at the Guinness Rugby Writers Ireland awards in Dublin as they were crowned XVs players of the year.

Aki’s men’s player of the year award came after some outstanding displays for his country as the national side completed a Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam. 

He was also one of the marquee players at the World Cup in France, scoring five tries as he started all five of Ireland’s matches and earned a nomination for World Rugby’s Player of the Year award.

“To be given this award is unbelievably humbling,” Aki said having become the first Connacht player to receive the accolade since Eric Elwood in 1992/93.

“It has been quite a journey… I’m quite lucky to be surrounded by such good people and such good team-mates, to be able to stay here for over a decade. I haven’t looked back once. I’ve enjoyed every moment of it, and when you’re enjoying it, you just get down to the work and do what you need to do.” 

The Ireland centre was a try scorer in the World Cup quarter-final defeat to New Zealand on October 14 and while that represented a disappointing end to the campaign, Ireland’s body of work over 12 months, winning the Grand Slam and extending their run of victories to a team-record 17 consecutive Tests before that 28-24 Paris defeat to the All Blacks, earned Andy Farrell’s men the Dave Guiney Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Team of the Year award.

Fryday’s women’s player of the year award comes at the end of a year in which the Exeter Chiefs lock retired from international rugby, bowing out as Ireland captain last July following a difficult Six Nations campaign in which she was one the team’s standout performers.

“It is a huge privilege,” Fryday said. 

“It has been a bittersweet season but a journey I am grateful to have been part of for the last seven years. I feel very proud to have captained a very special group of players with Ireland who epitomised resilience, dedication and commitment to the jersey. I would also like to thank the many people throughout my International career who supported me and made the journey a memorable one.” 

Harry McNulty and Lucy Mulhall’s contributions to Ireland’s Olympic Sevens qualifying effort for this summer’s Games in Paris were recognised at the Guinness Storehouse last night as they picked up their respective Sevens Player of the Year Awards.

Also honoured at the event was Clontarf and Leinster academy back-rower Alex Soroka, the Ukrainian-born forward whose fundraising efforts for the war-torn country were recognised by Rugby Writers Ireland’s Tom Rooney Award.

Incoming IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys was recognised for an illustrious playing career last night as the former Heineken Cup-winning Ulster and Ireland fly-half became one of Rugby Writers Ireland’s latest inductees to its Hall Of Fame, entering the pantheon alongside Ireland women’s 2013 Grand Slam winner Lynne Cantwell.

Tyrone’s Clogher Valley RFC was voted Club of the Year after earning promotion to Division 2C of the Men's All Ireland League last season and competing as a senior club this season for the first time in its history.