Three on player of the year shortlist

NEWS:THERE WILL be a first-time winner of the IRUPA Players' Player of the Year in this, the 10th year of the awards, after the Irish Rugby Union Players' Association yesterday announced a shortlist comprising Stephen Ferris, Rob Kearney and Ronan O'Gara.

The 160 or so membership can vote for anyone bar a team-mate in their own province.

There will be few quibbles with this year’s shortlist, although after being a model of consistency and near ever-present for Connacht this season, Gavin Duffy is unlucky to miss out.

After a storming World Cup, Ferris was a stand-out performer in Ireland’s Six Nations campaign with his huge tackle count, while the Amlin Opta statistics make him Ulster’s leading all-round Heineken Cup performer to date.

Aside from Kearney’s customary brilliance under the high ball his counter-attacking, hitting the line, try-scoring passes and finishing have all come up another notch this season. In addition to scoring seven tries in his last eight games for Leinster, in their six pool games he made 558 metres (second only to Ben Foden) from 69 carries, making 13 offloads and beating 14 defenders.

O’Gara regained his starting place for Ireland at the World Cup and then played the leading role in Munster’s six-from-six wins in the pool stages, noticeably when securing wins in their opening back-to-back games against Northampton and Castres with last-kick drop goals.

NOMINATIONS: Players' Player of the Year: Stephen Ferris (Ulster), Rob Kearney (Leinster), Ronan O'Gara (Munster).

Young Player of the Year: Craig Gilroy (Ulster), Ian Madigan (Leinster) Peter O'Mahony (Munster). Try of the Year: Craig Gilroy (Munster v Ulster, Heineken Cup) Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster v Cardiff Blues, Heineken Cup), Niall Ronan (Llanelli Scarlets v Munster, Heineken Cup). Medal for Excellence: Shane Jennings (Leinster), Ronan Loughney (Connacht), Mick O'Driscoll (Munster).