Dan Sheehan, the Leinster hooker, has been recognized as the Player's Player of the Season for the 2022/23 BKT United Rugby Championship. This prestigious accolade was awarded based on a ballot where the captains and vice-captains of the league's teams cast their votes.
Sheehan, a Dublin native, has scored 8 tries for Leinster this year and also scored in Ireland's Grand Slam 29-16 bonus-point victory over a 14-man England side in March. His try tally for the year totaled 14 times in 24 games for both province and country this season.
The winner of the Players’ Player of the Season Award goes to… @LeinsterRugby’s Dan Sheehan 🔵#URC | #URCAwards
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) May 24, 2023
Despite a brilliant season for his province, Sheehan and Leinster's URC title bid was ended by Munster in the semi-finals, and a week later, Leinster were defeated in the Champions Cup final against La Rochelle. Sheehan scored two tries in the defeat to Ronan O'Gara's side.
The 24-year-old was also nominated within the URC's Dream Team and was also nominated in the Men's XV and Men's Young Player of the Year categories previously.
URC Awards 2022/23 Winners
OFX Top Try Scorer: Tom Stewart (Ulster)
Tackle Machine: John Hodnett (Munster)
Turnover King: Thomas Young (Cardiff Rugby)
Elite XV: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), Daniel du Plessis (DHL Stormers), Simone Gesi (Zebre Parma), Ross Byrne (Leinster), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks), Gavin Coombes (Munster), Scott Penny (Leinster), Vaea Fifita (Scarlets), Federico Ruzza (Benetton), Niall Murray (Connacht), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers).
Next-Gen Player of the Season: Tom Stewart (Ulster)
Vodacom Fans’ Player of the Season: Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers)
Try of the season: Joaquin Riera (Benetton @ Cell C Sharks, Round 17)
Gilbert Golden Boot: Johan Goosen (Vodacom Bulls)
Ironman: Quan Horn (Emirates Lions)
BKT Coach of the Season: Franco Smith (Glasgow Warriors)
Players’ Player of the Season: Dan Sheehan (Leinster)
