Munster's Jack Crowley crowned URC next-gen player of the season

CRUCIAL COG: Munster’s Jack Crowley lines up a penalty against Ospreys. Pic: Dan Sheridan, Inpho

Munster and Ireland out-half Jack Crowley has been crowned the United Rugby Championship's next-gen player of the season. 

First-choice Ireland 10 Crowley has steered Graham Rowntree's reigning URC champions side to top spot and a semi-final meeting with Glasgow Warriors at Thomond Park this Saturday.

24-year-old Crowley has scooped the gong - open to players who were aged 23 and under at the start of the season, and had earned no more than five international caps at the end of the 2022/23 season - having scored two tries in 12 games, while orchestrating play from out-half for his province.

One member of the voting panel, made up of media across the five involved nations, said: “Having nailed down the Munster No. 10 jersey at the end of last season, Crowley’s all-round game and leadership has rapidly matured in the role in 23/24. Not only an excellent game manager but with the ability and vision to be a game-changer.”

Crowley was not the only Munster man to be honoured, with winger Shane Daly taking home the Ironman award, which recognises the player who has racked up the most minutes over the 18 rounds of the BKT URC.

Daly was the only Irish provincial player to start in all 18 rounds of the URC.