Rugby players of year nominees announced

Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Hugo Keenan and Mack Hansen have been nominated for the men's players' player of the year award.

The nominees for the women’s award are Linda Djougang, Eve Higgins and Sam Monaghan.

Having been named player of the series for the Autumn Nations Cup, Leinster's Doris is one of the men’s nominees having carried his exceptional form into Six Nations to firmly put a difficult 2020/21 campaign behind him.

He is joined by fellow backrower Van der Flier. A nominee for the Six Nations Player of the Championship, Van der Flier played every minute of the competition while he has also been an imposing presence on the European stage as Leinster made it to the Champions Cup semi-final.

Leinster full-back Keenan’s remarkably consistent form has also been recognised, while Connacht's Hansen makes up the shortlist following his meteoric rise within the game since landing in Ireland from Australia last year.

Earlier today Connacht announced that the winger had signed a new deal.

Against the backdrop of a difficult few months for the Irish Women’s XVs, several players emerged from the 2021/22 season with their reputations enhanced.

Djougang has been an ever present in the side, while Higgins grew further into the XVs game with a series of exciting performances. Monaghan’s contribution was also telling and cemented her place as an integral member of the squad.

This year will also see one of Higgins, Neve Jones or Aoibheann Reilly named as the Young Player of the Year.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the passing of former Ulster player Nevin Spence, his brother Graham and his father Noel.

A recipient of the award in 2011, the Nevin Spence Men’s XVs young player of the year award has been presented in his