Williams Heads Up Winners’ List At Ulster Rugby Awards

Nick Williams won the Heineken Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year award at Ulster Rugby’s Annual Awards Dinner, which was held at the Culloden Estate and Spa on Thursday evening.
  

Nick Williams, who will join Cardiff Blues this summer, was one of 14 winners at the black tie event, which celebrates all levels of rugby in Ulster.

Having spent four years at Ulster Rugby, the hugely popular 32-year-old’s performances, commitment and pride in the shirt have made him a true favourite among team-mates, coaches, staff and supporters. 

During his time at Ulster Rugby, Williams has racked up 76 appearances, registered 16 tries, and has earned countless man-of-the-match awards in both the GUINNESS PRO12 and European Champions Cup. 

Stuart McCloskey earned the Bank of Ireland Player of the Year award after a superb season that saw him win international recognition with Ireland during the recent Six Nations campaign.

Kyle McCall, who made such an impact this season, starting five of Ulster’s six European games, collected the BT Young Player of the Year accolade. Adam McBurney has been named as Hughes Insurance Academy Player of the Year after a string of impressive performances for the Ireland Under-20s.

Paddy Jackson and Franco van der Merwe were also rewarded for their stellar performances this season, winning the Ulster Rugby Supporters Club Player of the Year and Rugby Writers’ Player of the Year awards respectively.

Bangor RFC’s truly brilliant season, during which they won the Kukri Qualifying League One, the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup and the Powerade Towns Cup, and also secured promotion to the Ulster Bank League, saw them collect the Kukri Sports Club of the Year award.

Well-known volunteer, Willie Gribben, Chairman of Portadown Panthers Disability Rugby Club, won the SONI Community Rugby Champion award, while Inishowen RFC’s John Merritt won the Dorrington B Faulkner award in recognition of his services to rugby in Ulster.

Rodger McBurney (Ballymena RFC), Jonathon Stewart (Wallace High School), John McCusker (Rainey Old Boys RFC) and Kathryn Dane (Enniskillen RFC) also picked up individual awards for their performances this season. Daniel Carson was selected as Autotrader Referee of the Year after significant progress during the 2015/16 campaign.

2015/16 ULSTER RUGBY AWARDS WINNERS & NOMINEES:

(winners in bold)

Ulster Carpets Youth Player of the Year –

John McCusker (Rainey RFC)
Joseph Dunleavy (Letterkenny RFC)
Paul Mullan (Armagh RFC)

Danske Bank Schools’ Player of the Year –

Marcus Rea (Ballymena Academy)
Jonathon Stewart (Wallace High School)
Tom O’Toole (Campbell College)

SONI Community Rugby Champion Award –

Grace Davitt (Cooke RFC)
Katie Speers (Ballymoney RFC)
Stephen Nutt (Ards RFC)
Willie Gribben (Portadown RFC)

Dorrington B Faulkner Award (sponsored by Perennials RFC) –

John Merritt (Inishowen RFC)

Ken Goodall Club Player of the Year –

Aaron Cairns (Ballynahinch RFC) 
Rodger McBurney (Ballymena RFC)
Mathew Rea (Ballymena RFC)

The Errigle Inn Women’s Player of the Year –
 
Colette Broome (Queen’s University RFC)
Grace Davitt (Cooke RFC)
Kathryn Dane (Enniskillen RFC) 

Autotrader Referee of the Year –

Daniel Carson

Kukri Sports Club of the Year –

Bangor RFC
Carrickfergus RFC
Enniskillen RFC

Hughes Insurance Academy Player of the Year –

Adam McBurney
Johnny McPhillips
Jacob Stockdale

URSC Player of the Year –

Paddy Jackson
Stuart McCloskey
Nick Williams

Rugby Writers’ Player of the Year –

Franco van der Merwe
Nick Williams
Craig Gilroy

BT Young Player of the Year –

Kyle McCall
Rory Scholes
Jacob Stockdale

Bank of Ireland Ulster Player of the Year –

Rob Herring
Paddy Jackson
Stuart McCloskey

Heineken Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year –

Nick Williams