Humphreys takes award

David Humphreys, Harry Williams, Cork Constitution and Ulster were the main beneficiaries of the Rugby Writers of Ireland/ Guinness awards at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin last night.

Irish out-half David Humphreys was honoured with the player of the year award following an outstanding season for both Ulster and Ireland. He captained his province to their glorious European Cup success and was particularly conspicuous - he scored 51 points - in an otherwise disappointing Five Nations Championship.

Humphreys became the first player to win the award twice, having been previously honoured in 1995-1996. Educated at Ballymena Academy, the Dungannon player has won caps at every level for Ireland and also holds the record for number of points scored in a varsity match.

Constitution prevailed in the club of the year category in recognition of their success in the AIB League. It was their second success in the league, their first being in 1990-1991 when they also won club of the year.

Constitution still have an opportunity to complete the double, by winning the Munster Senior Cup. Tonight they face Midleton in a semi-final at Musgrave Park, hoping to add to their 22 successes in the competition.

The Tom Rooney Memorial Award, a trophy recognising the significant input of an individual or individuals in Irish rugby, could not find a more deserving recipient than Ulster coach Harry Williams. His was a pivotal role in the province's European glory.

In recognition of Ulster's achievement, a special presentation was made to the team highlighting their success and acknowledging the honour and prestige which they have brought to Irish rugby.

Meanwhile, London Irish captain and Ireland fullback Conor O'Shea collected a prestigious award on Wednesday evening when he picked up the Players' Player of the Year. At a ceremony in Gibson Hall, City of London, O'Shea was voted the best player of the season by his colleagues in the Allied Dunbar Premier division. All of the players in the division were eligible to vote.

Other nominees for the Players' Player award were Gary Armstrong of Newcastle and Neil Back from Leicester. In the category of International Player of the Year, Irish hooker Keith Wood was amongst the three nominees along with Sale's Shane Howarth but failed to clinch the overall award, which went to Scott Murray from Bedford.

The award of Coach of the Season fell to Northampton's Ian McGeechan with London Irish coach Dick Best also amongst the nominees along with Leicester's John Wells.

Allied Dunbar winners: Players' Player of the Year - Conor O'Shea (London Irish); Young player - Johnny Wilson (Newcastle); International Player - Scott Murray (Bedford); Coach of the Season - Ian McGeechan (Northampton); Fair Play Award - Wakefield; Division Two Players' Player - John Dudley (Rotherham).

In Dublin, the IRFU also formerly launched its official internet Web Site - www.irfu.ie. The announcement took place in the Bank of Ireland, College Green, yesterday and was attended by IRFU president Noel Murphy.

"The IRFU wants to be in the forefront of the technological advances being made for the dissemination of information. We, too, want to utilise the internet as a means of further communicating our message globally to as many people who are interested in our affairs," he said.

The IRFU say that the Web Site will be constantly updated with information to ensure high news value and content. A significant body of material is already posted on the site and it is intended that this will significantly increase over the following months.

Ciaran Scally and Brian O'Driscoll, the 20-year-old Australian-bound members of the Irish squad, are both set to leave UCD and are expected to join the school of their alma mater, Blackrock College, before the transfer deadline of June 1st, reports Gerry Thornley.

Considering they were unluckily relegated from Division One on the last day of the AIL, the four-times capped Scally and the prodigious O'Driscoll represent considerable coups for Blackrock.

Indeed, it would complete a good close-season for the Stradbrook club given they have already secured Gary Halpin from Harlequins, and are expected to retain the services of all their leading young players, such as Brian Carey, Leo Cullen and another Australia-bound under-21 player, lock Robert Casey.