After a season in which he captained Ireland to a Grand Slam and won the European Cup with Leinster before starring for the Lions in South Africa, Brian O’Driscoll has been named rugby writers’ player of the year at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin.
Outstanding performances – most notably against England in the Six Nations and in the second Lions Test against the Springboks – left the centre head and shoulders above the competition.
He is also part of the club team of the year, Leinster, and the Dave Guiney perpetual award for team of the year, Ireland, as the most remarkable of rugby seasons was celebrated.
The year was O’Driscoll’s tenth in an Ireland jersey, while it has been seven years since he first wore the armband against Sunday opponents Australia.
Paddy ‘Rala’ O’Reilly of Terenure College RFC was presented with the Tom Rooney award, recognising 15 years of service as Ireland team bag man, while two former Irish backrows, Fergus Slattery and Ronnie Kavanagh, were inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Michael Whelan of Guinness and Peter O’Reilly, chairman of the Rugby Writers of Ireland, jointly presented the awards.
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