Munster and Ireland’s CJ Stander has been voted the Zurich IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year 2016 by his fellow players at the 14th annual awards ceremony which took place in Dublin last night.
There was an indication of the changing of the guard with regard to sponsorship of Irish Rugby with Vodafone supporting a Medal of Excellence Award to Isaac Boss for his on field effort combined with off field commitment to the game.
Stander had an outstanding debut season for his adopted country, earning his first cap in Ireland’s opening Six Nations draw against Wales where he was named man of the match. He continued this rich vein of form for the remainder of the campaign scoring his first international try against Italy.
Subsequently appointed Munster captain following injury to Peter O’Mahony and has been the stand out player for his province this season.
Standers performances didn’t go unnoticed by supporters either as he was also voted The Irish Times Supporters’ Player of the Year 2016.
“I’m delighted to win this award,” he said before an appreciative crowd of players and supporters.
“Receiving recognition from my fellow peers is the ultimate accolade. I will remember this season fondly, from winning my first cap, to scoring my first international try and ultimately winning this award”.
Josh Van der Flier was named the Nevin Spence Young Player of the Year 2016 after impressing all season for Leinster and excelling in his debut for Ireland against England in the Six Nations Championship.
Joining Ireland’s heroes in the BNY Mellon IRUPA Hall of Fame was Munster and Ireland Ronan O’Gara.
The Zurich Contribution to Irish Society award tapped into the supported ‘Tackle your Feelings’ campaign around mental health and was presented to musician, triathlete, mental health campaigner and former Leinster player, Niall Breslin, in recognition of the massive impact he has made in raising awareness of mental health and various other charities.
The BNY Mellon Women’s Fifteens Player of the Year 2016, as voted by members of the Ireland squad, was presented to another Irish international debutant, Sene Naoupu, for her outstanding performances.
The winner of the Women’s Sevens Player of the Year 2016 was Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe who helped Ireland to qualify for the World Series for the first time.
In what has been a special season for Connacht, littered with outstanding performances, members of the public voted for the provinces first win over Munster in 29 years in Limerick as the Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa Rugby Moment of the Year via Twitter. The award was collected by Connacht’s Ronan Loughney and coach Pat Lam.
“Winning an IRUPA award is the highest honour a player can receive,” said Omar Hassanein, CEO of IRUPA.
“All of the winners and nominees have the total respect of those who they play with and against. I am delighted for CJ, the award he received is a superb reflection of the fantastic season he has enjoyed with both Ireland and Munster Rugby.”
“The young men and women involved in rugby continue to be role models for so many people here in Ireland and true ambassadors for our country,” added Conor Brennan, CEO of Zurich Insurance plc, Ireland.
“Zurich is absolutely delighted to be sponsor of these awards, recognising achievements both on and off the pitch.”
“We look forward to continuing our support of IRUPA and the Tackle Your Feelings campaign, which we hope will do a great deal to improve our attitudes and approach to mental health here in Ireland.”
