Stander Scoops Award For Second Successive Year
CJ Stander became the first player to claim the Munster Rugby Player of the Year award for the second year in succession at today's annual Munster Rugby Awards, in association with the Irish Independent.
With an audience of 245 guests, the event took place at the Clayton Hotel Silver Springs in Cork with eleven awards presented to worthy recipients involved in professional and domestic rugby in Munster.
Another first saw Greencore Munster Rugby Academy player Rory Scannell deservedly claim double honours, winning the Young Player of the Year and the John McCarthy Award for Greencore Munster Rugby Academy Player of the Year.
The full Munster squad, Head Coach Anthony Foley and Team Manager Niall O'Donovan were all in attendance, joining domestic game volunteers in recognising and honouring rugby achievements across the province.
CJ Stander was named this year's Munster Rugby Player of the Year after a hugely impressive season. The South African picked up the award for the second year-in-a-row after scoring seven tries in 21 appearances, and captained the side on 17 occasions. He also picked up four man of the match awards and was most recently named in the Guinness PRO12 Dream Team.
Additionally the backrow forward claimed a man of the match award on his International debut against Wales and started in all of Ireland’s 6 Nations games, while last week he became the first ever player to win the IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year award and Supporters’ Player of the Year.
The Young Player of the Year and the John McCarthy Award for Greencore Munster Rugby Academy Player of the Year were awarded to Rory Scannell.
After enjoying a breakthrough season in his final year of the academy programme the 22-year-old played for Munster on 26 occasions, making the number 12 jersey his own since December, and scored 4 tries, kicking 10 points.
The Dolphin club man made his competitive debut against Cardiff Blues in November 2014 at 20 years of age. A former Ireland U20s' star that played across the backline, the Cork man was part of the Tblisi Cup winning Emerging Ireland squad in June 2015.
For the third year in a row Tralee RFC produced the Women's Player of the Year with flanker Siobhan Fleming picking up the award for a third time.
The latest inductee into the Munster Rugby Hall of Fame was Dolphin RFC’s Phil O’Callaghan, acknowledged for his contribution to rugby in Munster and Ireland.
The Club and School awards were distributed around the province. Cork Constitution were named Senior Club of the Year while the Junior accolade went to Bandon RFC.
Waterpark RFC and Corca Dhuibhne RFC were worthy recipients for their respective Youth and Mini sections while the School of the Year was awarded to Christian Brothers College, Cork.
Full list of Munster Rugby Award winners for Season 2015/16:
Club Mini Section of the Year – Corca Dhuibhne RFC
Club Youth Section of the Year – Waterpark RFC
School of the Year – Christian Brothers College
Junior Club of the Year - Bandon RFC
Senior Club of the Year – Cork Constitution FC
Referee of the Year – Frank Murphy
Women’s Player of the Year – Siobhan Fleming
Hall of Fame Award – Phil O’Callaghan
The John McCarthy Award for Greencore Academy Player of the Year – Rory Scannell
Young Player of the Year – Rory Scannell
Player of the Year – CJ Stander