Just over one-third of the 2022/2023 URC Elite XV is made up of players from Irish provinces. The team of the year was announced this week. The list includes six players from Irish clubs.
Leinster has the most players represented in the team with three, namely Scott Penny, Dan Sheehan, and Ross Byrne.
Two Connacht players, Finlay Bealham and Niall Murray, also made the team.
Gavin Coombes from Munster is the only player from that province to make the team, while no Ulster players were selected.
The defending champions, South Africa's Stormers, are represented in the team by centre Dan du Plessis and captain Steven Kitshoff.
Grant Williams, the scrum-half from Sharks, and full-back Kurt-Lee Arendse from Bulls represent their respective teams.
Here is your 22/23 Elite XV ⬇️
x3️⃣ @LeinsterRugby
x2️⃣ @TheStormers
x2️⃣ @ConnachtRugby
x1️⃣ @BenettonRugby
x1️⃣ @Scarlets_Rugby
x1️⃣ @MunsterRugby
x1️⃣ @ZebreParma
x1️⃣ @SharksRugby
x1️⃣ @EdinburghRugby
x1️⃣ @BlueBullsRugby
x1️⃣ @GlasgowWarriors #URC | #URCAwards— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) May 11, 2023
Two Scotland internationals, Darcy Graham from Edinburgh Rugby and Sione Tuipulotu from Glasgow Warriors, are also included in the team.
Italy's representation in the team includes Benetton lock Federico Ruzza partnering with Niall Murray in the second-row, while Zebre winger Simone Gesi secures a place in the back three.
Scarlets star Vaea Fifita is the only player from the Welsh regions.
Players had to have made a minimum of nine appearances to be considered, with the media panel given a shortlist of 10 players per position, provided by URC StatMaster. The player with the most votes in each position earned a place in the team.
Futher URC awards are to be handed out as part of three weeks of URC Awards announcements.
The Next-Gen Player of the Season will be announced on Wednesday with the Try of the Season, Gilbert Golden Boot and Ironman disclosed next week.
The BKT Coach of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season and Vodacom Fans’ Player of the Season are then revealed in the build-up to the Grand Final.
URC Elite XV
15: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) 14: Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby) 13: Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) 12: Daniel du Plessis (DHL Stormers) 11: Simone Gesi (Zebre Parma) 10: Ross Byrne (Leinster) 9: Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks) 1: Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) 2: Dan Sheehan (Leinster) 3: Finlay Bealham (Connacht) 4: Niall Murray (Connacht) 5: Federico Ruzza (Benetton) 6: Vaea Fifita (Scarlets) 7: Scott Penny (Leinster) 8: Gavin Coombes (Munster)
URC Awards 2022-23
Top Try Scorer: Tom Stewart (Ulster)
Tackle Machine: John Hodnett (Munster)
Turnover King: Thomas Young (Cardiff)
