2025 Connacht Rugby Award Winners

Ben Murphy and Orla Dixon were the big winners of the 2025 Connacht Rugby Awards, presented by Globalization Partners.

The pair won the coveted Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year awards, capping off an incredible year for the duo.

Murphy was also named Fans’ Player of the Year, while Shayne Bolton took home the Try of the Year award.

17 award winners were named in categories across the domestic, pathway and senior setups, with nearly 600 people in attendance at the Galmont Hotel in Galway.

On the Club & Community front, it was a night to remember for Creggs RFC who took home five awards, including the prestigious Club of the Year accolade. Coach Kolo Kiripati was named Coach of the Year, Brian Diffley took home Junior Club Player of the Year, Jemima Adams Verling won the Women’s Club Player of the Year award, Siofra Hession was named U18 Women’s Player of the Year.

Two further highlights was the announcement of Gerry Kelly as the winner of the Lifetime Contribution to Rugby Award, while long-time Connemara RFC servant Mary Lydon was named the Unsung Hero winner.

2025 CONNACHT RUGBY AWARD WINNERS

Academy Player of the Year, sponsored by University of Galway
Winner: Finn Treacy
Nominees: Billy Bohan, John Devine

U18 Men’s Player of the Year, sponsored by Sound to Light
Winner: Andrew Henson – Buccaneers RFC / Marist College Athlone
Nomines: Leo Anic – Creggs RFC / CBS Roscommon, Dara Walsh – Corinthians RFC / Coláiste Éinde 

U18 Women’s Player of the Year, sponsored by RDJ
Winner: Siofra Hession – Creggs RFC / The Convent Roscommon
Nominees: Ailbhe Gannon Tuam-Oughterard RFC, Aoife Heaney – Claremorris RFC / Mount St. Michael Claremorris

U19 Men’s Player of the Year, sponsored by Western Postform
Winner: Sean Walsh – Corinthians RFC / Coláiste Éinde
Nominees: Charlie Keane – Corinthians RFC / Coláiste Bhaile Chláir, Diarmaid O’Connell – Corinthians RFC / Sligo Grammar 

Unsung Hero Award, sponsored by Aerogen
Winner: Mary Lydon

Referee of the Year, sponsored by Heineken
Winner: Cathal Roddy
Nominees: David Burke, Mark Harrigan

Coach of the Year, sponsored by Deloitte
Winner: Kolo Kiripati – Creggs RFC
Nominees: Sean Breathnach – An Ghaeltacht Rugbai, Paddy Pearson – Sligo Rugby

Women’s Club Player of the Year, sponsored by Screens on the Square
Winner: Jemima Adams Verling – Creggs RFC
Nominees: Molly Boote – Tuam-Oughterard RFC, Louise Kelly – OLBC/Corinthians RFC

Men’s Junior Club Player of the Year, sponsored by Laya
Winner: Brian Diffley – Creggs RFC
Nominees: Dylan Keane – Ballinrobe RFC, Shane Purcell – Creggs RFC

Men’s Senior Club Player of the Year, sponsored by HAS Integration
Winner: Joey Tierney – Corinthians RFC
Nominees: Stephen Mannion – Galwegians RFC, Corey Reid – Buccaneers RFC 

School of the Year, sponsored by University of Galway
Winner: Marist College
Nominees: Sligo Grammar, Rice College Westport

Club of the Year, sponsored by Bank of Ireland
Winner: Creggs RFC
Nominees: Carrick-on-Shannon RFC, Corinthians RFC

Fans’ Player of the Year, sponsored by Murty Rabbitt’s
Winner: Ben Murphy
Nominees: Paul Boyle, Dave Heffernan, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Sean Jansen 

Try of the Year, sponsored by Globalization Partners
Winner: Shayne Bolton
Nominees: Ben Murphy x2, Finn Treacy, Cathal Forde

Women’s Player of the Year, sponsored by Globalization Partners
Winner: Orla Dixon
2^nd: Beibhinn Gleeson
3^rd: Faith Oviawe
Nominees: Ella Burns, Meabh Deely

Men’s Player of the Year, sponsored by Genesys
Winner: Ben Murphy
2^nd: Cian Prendergast
3^rd: Finlay Bealham
Nominees: Darragh Murray, Josh Ioane

Lifetime Contribution to Rugby Award, sponsored by Galway Crystal
Winner: Gerry Kelly

• connachtrugbyawards