Stuart McCloskey and Clíodhna Maloney-MacDonald have won the Rugby Players Ireland Player of the Year awards.
Ulster and Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey was trecognised by his fellow players as the OCC Consulting Men's Players’ Player of the Year.
A hugely influential figure throughout the season for both province and country, the award caps an extraordinary campaign for the 33-year-old.
Jamison Gibson-Park, Dan Sheehan, and last year’s winner and British and Irish Lions Player of the Series Tadhg Beirne were also on the shortlist.
McCloskey said: "I’m not sure there’s any world in which I would have imagined myself receiving this award this time last year.
"I’ve really enjoyed this season and having the opportunity to test myself against the very best in the game.
"I’m also honoured to share the field with many great players, and to have this acknowledgment from them is very special."
Meanwhile, Moloney-MacDonald was named the OCC Consulting Women’s Players’ Player of the Year ahead of fellow nominees Eve Higgins and Brittany Hogan.
Having made her debut in 2015, Moloney-MacDonald is one of Irish rugby’s longest-serving internationals and won her 50th cap during the Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
Recalled in 2024 after a three-year hiatus, Moloney-MacDonald has brought invaluable experience to a young and exciting squad that played before a record crowd last weekend.
The Exeter Chiefs hooker said: "It feels like I’ve had two different careers with Ireland. It hasn’t been an easy road at times but the team is now in a great place and well positioned to become a real force at the top of the women’s game.
"I’m proud to have played my part over the years and while award feels like a full circle moment, I know there is plenty of road in the journey to go."
The Zurich Contribution to Irish Society Award was presented to retiring Connacht out-half Jack Carty in recognition of his continued advocacy and community engagement, as well as his work across Tackle Your Feelings and other charitable causes.
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The MSL Mercedes-Benz Ballsbridge Men’s XVs Try of the Year went to Ulster wing Rob Baloucoune for his try against Italy, while Higgins claimed the AIB Women’s XVs Try of the Year following a memorable breakaway score against Japan during the World Cup.
Robyn O’Connor prevailed as the Energia Women’s XVs Young Player of the Year after a breakthrough season that included a try-scoring Irish debut, while Ulster’s Bryn Ward was the Nevin Spence Men’s XVs Young Player of the Year Award.
Megan Burns was named as the Triton Lake Women’s 7s Player of the Year, Ireland’s successful pursuit of another Triple Crown as the Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort Moment of the Year with McCloskey’s dramatic chase-down tackle against England serving as the defining image of the campaign.
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