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.
John Mulligan spoke to William Davies on Sunday Sport.
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
2nd: Beibhinn Gleeson
3rd: Faith Oviawe
Nominees: Ella Burns, Meabh Deely
Men’s Player of the Year, sponsored by Genesys
Winner: Ben Murphy
2nd: Cian Prendergast
3rd: Finlay Bealham
Nominees: Darragh Murray, Josh Ioane
Lifetime Contribution to Rugby Award, sponsored by Galway Crystal
Winner: Gerry Kelly
