Mack Hansen, Dan Sheehan, Caelan Doris and Hugo Keenan on Rugby Players Ireland awards shortlist

Mack Hansen, Dan Sheehan, Caelan Doris and Hugo Keenan have all been nominated for the Bank of Ireland Men's XVs Players’ Player of the Year at the Rugby Players Ireland awards next week.

It's the second year in a row that Hansen, Doris and Keenan have been nominated for the top men's prize, with the trio also having been shortlisted for this year's Six Nations Player of the Championship, which was ultimately won by Antoine Dupont.

They're joined on the shortlist by Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan, who scored two tries in Ireland's Grand Slam finale against England at the Aviva Stadium. The 24-year-old has also been nominated for the Nevin Spence Men's Young Player of the Year, alongside Munster's Jack Crowley.

Sheehan and Crowley have Ulster's Tom Stewart for company on the Young Player of the Year ballot. The 22-year-old set a new scoring record of 16 tries in the BKT United Rugby Championship this season, which saw him voted as the tournament's Next-Gen Player of the Season.

Captain Nichola Fryday is among the nominees for the Bank of Ireland Women's XVs Players' Player of the Year prize, with the lock shortlisted alongside hooker Neve Jones and number 8 Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, who were the standout players of a difficult Six Nations campaign, which saw Ireland finish bottom of the table.

Natasja Behan, Aoife Dalton or Sadhbh McGrath will contest the Marketing Women's XVs Young Player of the Year award. Behan and Dalton started every game for Ireland in the championship, with McGrath making five appearances, four of which came from the bench.

Among the other awards to be handed out at next week's ceremony at the Clayton Hotel in Ballsbridge are the Triton Lake 7s Player of the Year prizes, with Lucy Mulhall, Emily Lane and