Johnny Sexton and Bundee Aki among nominees for Rugby Writers award

Johnny Sexton and Bundee Aki head up the five-man shortlist for the 2023 Guinness Rugby Writers Ireland Men's XV’s Player of the Year Award.

Sexton, who retired after the Rugby World Cup in France last month, is included after captaining the side to a Six Nations Grand Slam, while the 38-year-old also broke Ronan O'Gara's longstanding points record with the national side, finishing his career with 1108 points in the Irish jersey.

Aki is also nominated for the award, having been shortlisted for world player of the year in October. The 33-year-old moved past 50 caps for Ireland during 2023, while he was the standout Irish player at the World Cup, scoring five tries and playing every minute of the campaign.

Caelan Doris, who won the Rugby Players Ireland men's player of the year in May, is also on the list of nominees for the writers' award, as are Andrew Porter and Hugo Keenan.

Recently retired Nichola Fryday is among the names included on the shortlist for women's XV player of the year.

The second row, who stepped down from Test rugby in the summer, is joined on the ballot by players' player of the year Neve Jones, new co-captain Sam Monaghan, as well as Deirbhile Nic a Bháird and Aoife Dalton.

Having finished last in the Six Nations, a disappointing season ended on a high for the women's team after their WXV3 victory in the autumn.

Mark Roche, Harry McNulty and Jack Kelly are the nominees for men's Sevens player of the year, while Lucy Mulhall, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe and Emily Lane will contest the women's Sevens prize.

Both Sevens sides have been shortlisted for the team of the year award, where they are joined by the men's XVs team, the Ireland U20s who reached the Junior World Cup final, and BKT URC champions Munster.

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