Bundee Aki named Ireland players' player of the year

Bundee Aki has been named as the BDO Ireland Men’s XVs Players’ Player of the Year 2024 by his fellow players at the Rugby Players Ireland Awards.

Nominated for both World Rugby Player of the Year and Six Nations Player of the Championship, Aki was always going be strong contender for the award despite the presence of Jamison Gibson-Park and Dan Sheehan in the shortlist.

A fan favourite, Aki hit new heights this season in the Irish midfield, helping Ireland to their second Six Nations title in as many years.

Aki commented: "I'm honoured to be recognised by my fellow Rugby Players Ireland members as their Player of the Year. It has been bittersweet but when I look back on the season, I won’t think about the results or awards. Instead, I’ll look back with pride at being part of such a resilient group, and the way we bounced back after the disappointment of the Rugby World Cup.

"Individual awards are fantastic, but this one would not have been possible without Jamison, Dan or any of my Irish or Connacht teammates for pushing me along."

Aoife Wafer won on the double as she claimed both the Strata Financial Women’s XVs Players’ Player of the Year and Energia Women’s XVs Young Player of the Year.

Despite being just 21 years of age, Wafer emerged as a real leader within the group as they secured Rugby World Cup qualification.

Speaking as she claimed the Players’ Player award, Wafer said: "The past few months have been the highlight of my career to date. I find it hard to believe given where I was not very long ago. While I was happy with the way I played on a personal level, I really fed off the energy of the wider squad.

"We are an extremely close group. We back each other on the good days, and especially on the bad. I feel we have