Mack Hansen up against three Leinster stars for Players’ Player of the Year

Patrick McCarry

The mutton-chopped Connacht winger is amongst the Leinster pigeons.

Mack Hansen and three Leinster stars have been buoyed, ahead of their respective United Rugby Championship semi-finals, with nominations for Ireland Men’s Players’ Player of the Year for 2023.

Hansen is up against the Leinster trio of Caelan Doris, Dan Sheehan and Hugo Keenan for the senior men’s prize. Sheehan is also in the mix for the Men’s XV Young Player of the Year award, along with Tom Stewart (Ulster) and Jack Crowley (Munster). A press release on the RPI awards reads, in part:

‘Grand Slam winners Doris, Hansen and Keenan are nominated for the second year in succession with Dan Sheehan a new addition to this year’s nominees at the expense of last year’s winner and World Rugby Player of the Year, Josh van der Flier. A central feature of the success both his club and country have enjoyed this season, Sheehan is also nominated for the Nevin Spence Men’s Young Player of the Year with Jack Crowley and Tom Stewart.

‘A nominee for the Six Nations Player of the Championship alongside Hansen and Keenan, Caelan Doris has enjoyed a superb campaign and can be credited with kick-starting Ireland’s Grand Slam voyage with his try after two minutes against Wales. Meanwhile, Hugo Keenan continued his extraordinary run of form with a number of vital contributions, not least his effort against France which is a contender for the MSL Mercedes-Benz Dealerships’ Men’s Try of the Year. A firm fan favourite, Mack Hansen completes the shortlist having earned numerous Guinness Six Nations Player of the Match awards. ‘

Ireland players, from left, Caelan Doris and Hugo Keenan pictured at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile)

Mack Hansen and Dan Sheehan up for two awards

After a stellar season for Connacht and Ireland, Mack Hansen is also up for two awards – Men’s XV Player and Try of the Year.

Ireland Women’s captain Nichola Fryday is up for two gongs in next Wednesday’s big event – Women’s XV Players’ Player of the Year and ‘Try of the Year’ for a Six Nations score against Scotland.

FULL LIST OF NOMINEES

BANK OF IRELAND MEN’S XVs PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2023

Caelan Doris (Leinster Rugby)
Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby)
Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby)
Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby)

BANK OF IRELAND WOMEN’S XVs PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2023

Nichola Fryday (Exeter Chiefs)
Neve Jones (Gloucester Hartpury)
Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere RFC)

NEVIN SPENCE MEN’S XVs YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2023

Jack Crowley (Munster Rugby)
Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby)
Tom Stewart (Ulster Rugby)

IZEST MARKETING WOMEN’s XVs YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2023

Nastaja Behan (Blackrock College RFC)
Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC)
Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC)

MSL MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIPS‘ MEN’S XVs TRY OF THE YEAR 2023

Shane Daly (Munster v South Africa Select XV)
Mack Hansen (Ireland v South Africa, Autumn Nations Cup)
Hugo Keenan (Ireland v France, Guinness Six Nations)

AIB CORPORATE BANKING WOMEN’S XVs TRY OF THE YEAR 2023

Natasja Behan (Ireland v Japan, Test Series)
Aoife Doyle (Ireland v Japan, Test Series)
Nichola Fryday (Ireland v Scotland, TikTok Six Nations)

TRITON LAKE MEN’S 7s PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2023

Jack Kelly
Harry McNulty
Andrew Smith

TRITON LAKE WOMEN’S 7s PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2023

Emily Lane
Lucy Mulhall
Béibhinn Parsons