Rugby IRUPA AwardsJohnny O'Connor was last night hailed as the BT/IRUPA Players' Player of the Year for the 2004-5 season at a banquet attended by 630 people in the Burlington Hotel, succeeding Malcolm O'Kelly and Gordon D'Arcy as winners of the prestigious award.
O'Connor was chosen by the majority of his 150 peers in the Irish Rugby Union Players' Association ahead of a shortlist which also included Paul O'Connell and the Ireland and Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll.
Doubts had been expressed about the size of the 25-year-old Wasps flanker at Test level, but he grew in strength and stature during the course of his rookie Test season - making his debut in the autumn win over South Africa and also playing in the ensuing victory over Argentina, as well as the Six Nations games against Scotland, England, France and Wales.
Lasting the full 80 minutes in the last three games, his durability was underlined with the defensive play which denied Josh Lewsey a try against England. To be selected as the players' player of the year speaks volumes for his high tackle count, work at the breakdown and his most constructive performance with ball-in-hand to date against Wales.
Nevertheless, O'Connor expressed his surprise at winning the award. "I'm a bit overwhelmed to be honest. It's a nice award to get, but I can't believe I've won it. For the other players to vote for me as the best player for 2005 gives me great pride and will only encourage me to go on to achieve greater things as my career develops."
O'Connor had been linked with a return to his native Connacht recently, but has signed a one-year extension with Wasps.
The reigning English Premiership champions face a semi-final play-off at home to Sale on Saturday but O'Connor is ruled out of that game with a broken hand sustained in training three weeks ago.
He holds out a small hope of being available for the final at Twickenham should Wasps make it, but a more realistic return date is a trial game on May 27th prior to Ireland's two-Test tour to Japan, "which hopefully I'll make if selected".
O'Connor's one-time Connacht team-mate Eric Elwood was inducted into the IRUPA Barker Hall of Fame after a season which saw the outhalf complete his 17-year association with the province.
Shane Jennings, Leinster's Leicester-bound openside, was chosen as the Hooke & MacDonald Unsung Hero, and the Tyrone Crystal Try of the Year award went to Ulster's Kieran Campbell for his try in the Heineken Cup win over Stade Français at Ravenhill.
Recognition of David Holwell's impactwith Leinster came with his Green Giant Newcomer of the Year award, while there would have been no more popular winner of the IRUPA Irish Life Special Merit Award amongst the players than the long-serving Irish baggage master Paddy "Rala" O'Reilly.
"What makes these awards so special is that they are voted for by the players from the four provinces," commented Niall Woods, chief executive of IRUPA.
Players' Player of the Year 2005 - Winner: Johnny O'Connor (Wasps). Also nominated: Paul O'Connell (Munster), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster).
Unsung Hero 2005 - Winner: Shane Jennings (Leinster). Also nominated: Neil Best (Ulster), John Hayes (Munster).
Hall of Fame 2005 - Inducted: Eric Elwood Connacht.
Try of the Year 2005 - Winner: Kieran Campbell (Ulster). Also nominated: David Humphreys (Ulster), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster).
Newcomer of the Year 2005 Winner: David Holwell (Leinster). Also nominated: Tommy Bowe (Ulster), Kieran Campbell (Ulster).
Special Merit Award 2005 - Winner: Paddy "Rala" O'Reilly.
Former Australian Under 21 international hooker Stephen Moore is being courted by Connacht and Ulster.
Currently contracted to the Queensland Reds in the Super 12 - they have two matches left in that competition - Moore has conceded he will review his future at the end of the season and confirmed that he had been approached by several Irish provinces.
He was born in Saudi Arabia to Irish parents - they returned to Ireland soon after his birth - before the family moved to Australia in 1988 when he was five years old.
