Doris And Murphy Honoured As Leinster’s Best Players For 2022/23

It capped a memorable few weeks for back rower Doris, who was also recently named the Rugby Players Ireland Player of the Year.

Old Belvedere and Leinster ace Murphy was unfortunately unable to attend the ceremony at the Clayton Burlington Hotel. Her award was accepted on her behalf by Leinster head coach Tania Rosser.

Other players celebrating included Scott Penny and Aoife Dalton who were presented with the Laya Healthcare Men’s Young Player of the Year and BearingPoint Women’s Young Player of the Year Awards.

Like Doris before, it capped a brilliant fortnight for Dalton who picked up the same award at the Rugby Players Ireland Awards earlier this month.

Hosted by Craig Doyle, with entertainment provided by Mario Rosenstock, the evening brought the curtain down on the 2022/23 domestic and professional season across the twelve counties of Leinster Rugby.

It also marked the final formal engagement for the province’s outgoing President Debbie Carty. The proud Wexford Wanderers club woman opened proceedings with a touching tribute to all those that had helped her in her year as President of the Leinster Branch.

Carty is the first woman to be elected as President of the Leinster Branch, and she wished incoming President Billy Murphy the very best of luck in his role.

After that it was over to Doyle to get the evening underway and over the course of the next few hours, the best of the game at all levels in Leinster was celebrated.

Departing players and staff were also acknowledged, with a brilliant ovation in particular for the departing duo of Stuart Lancaster and Jonathan Sexton.

Gerry Murphy was the latest inductee into the Guinness Hall of Fame. The former Leinster and Ireland head coach, who also had spells with Wanderers, Clontarf and Terenure College, was warmly welcomed onto the stage by many of those who knew him well from his 17 years working at the Branch head office. He was certainly a very popular winner.

Another person to be acknowledged for a stellar contribution to the game of rugby in Leinster was Co Carlow FC’s Rachael O’Brien, who received the Nissan Ireland Contribution to Leinster Rugby award for her tireless efforts on behalf of the game in Carlow, in Leinster and now on the IRFU Executive.

Mullingar RFC, Old Belvedere RFC, St Mary’s CBS, Portlaoise, and Gonzaga College were other big winners on the night.

Liam Turner accepted the gong for the Just Eat Tackle of the Year for his try-saving effort – combined with follow-ups from Rhys Ruddock, Rob Russell and Ciaran Frawley – against the DHL Stormers at the RDS.

Garry Ringrose collected two pieces of glass, winning the BDO Supporters Player of the Year trophy as well as the Irish Times Try of the Year, before the Ramblers band took over from the MC and played into the early hours.

2022/23 LEINSTER RUGBY AWARDS – LIST OF WINNERS:

Best Menswear Development School of the Year: St Mary’s CBS, Portlaoise

Just Eat Tackle of the Year: Liam Turner

Beauchamps School of the Year: Gonzaga College

Nissan Ireland Contribution to Leinster Rugby: Rachael O’Brien (Co Carlow FC)

Irish Times Try of the Year: Garry Ringrose (v Racing 92)

DigitalWell Junior Club of the Year: Mullingar RFC

Energia Senior Club of the Year: Old Belvedere RFC

BDO Supporters Player of the Year: Garry Ringrose

Guinness Hall of Fame: Gerry Murphy

BearingPoint Women’s Young Player of the Year: Aoife Dalton

Laya Healthcare Men’s Young Player of the Year: Scott Penny

Band of Ireland Women’s Player of the Year: Jenny Murphy

Bank of Ireland Men’s Player of the Year: Caelan Doris