Bundee Aki 'honoured' to win Men’s XVs Players’ Players of the Year award

Bundee Aki #12 of Ireland makes a tackle during the Ireland V Scotland, Six Nations rugby union match at Aviva Stadium on March 16, 2024, in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

Bundee Aki has capped off a fantastic year by winning the BDO Ireland Men’s XVs players’ player of the year award in 2024 at the Rugby Players Ireland awards.

Aki of Connacht was Ireland's standout performer at last year's World Cup, scoring four tries during Ireland's run to the World Cup quarter-finals, where they suffered a 28-24 defeat by the All Blacks.

This form was also displayed in Ireland's quest for another Six Nations title. Andy Farrell's men won another title, and Aki featured in every Ireland game except the Italy test.

Aki beat the likes of his Ireland teammates, Jamison Gibson-Park and Dan Sheehan for the award.

Speaking about his award, the Connacht star said, “I’m honoured to be recognised by my fellow Rugby Players Ireland members as their Player of the Year," said Aki. "It has been bittersweet, but when I look back on the season, I won’t think about the results or awards.

"Instead, I’ll look back with pride at being part of such a resilient group and the way we bounced back after the disappointment of the Rugby World Cup.

"Individual awards are fantastic, but this one would not have been possible without Jamison, Dan or any of my Irish or Connacht teammates for pushing me along.”

⭐️ Bundee Aki ⭐️

Bundee hit new heights this season and now lands the @BDOIreland Men’s XVs Players’ Player of the Year 🏅#MoreThanAPlayer #RugbyAwards24 pic.twitter.com/5US5mbRKHT

— RugbyPlayersIreland (@RugbyPlayersIRE) May 22, 2024

In the women's category, Ireland and Leinster talisman Aoife Wafer won Strata Financial Women’s XVs Players’ Player of the Year and Energia Women’s XVs Young Player of the Year.

The Wexford native helped Ireland finish third in the Six Nations and also had a huge hand in helping the Irish team qualify for the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England. This also comes after she was nominated for the Six Nations Player of the Championship

The past few months have been the highlight of my career to date. I find it hard to believe, given where I was not very long ago," she said.

"While I was happy with the way I played on a personal level, I really fed off the energy of the wider squad. We are an extremely close group. We support each other on the good days, and especially on the bad. I feel we have turned a big page in our journey this year, and I look forward to seeing where we can go together as a team.”

In other news, Keith Earls received the Zurich Contribution to Irish Society Award, and Conor Murray presented Johnny Sexton with a portrait on behalf of Rugby Players Ireland.

Craig Casey’s try against Leinster won the Mercedes-Benz Ballsbridge Men’s XVs Try of the Year, while Joe McCarthy was named Nevin Spence Men’s XVs Young Player of the Year. Zac Ward and Megan Burns were honoured as TritonLake Men’s and Women’s 7s Players’ Players of the Year, respectively.

BDO IRELAND MEN’S XVs PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2024

Bundee Aki Connacht Rugby

Jamison Gibson-Park Leinster Rugby

Dan Sheehan Leinster Rugby

STRATA FINANCIAL WOMEN’S XVs PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2024

Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere/Ulster Rugby)

Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College/Connacht Rugby)

Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College/Leinster Rugby)

NEVIN SPENCE MEN’S XVs YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2024

Tom Ahern (Munster Rugby)

Jack Crowley (Munster Rugby)

Joe McCarthy (Leinster Rugby)