There was some end of season consolation for Leinster and Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan after he was named BKT URC Players’ Player of the Season for 2022/23.
The award is voted for by the league’s captains and vice-captains and the 24-year-old came out on top in a poll that was conducted at the end of the regular campaign.
It is the second time Sheehan has been recognised in the URC Awards having secured a place in the Elite XV, pipping OFX Top Try Scorer Tom Stewart to the hooker position.
READ MORE: Dan Sheehan craving first trophy with Leinster after basking in Grand Slam glory
Sheehan crossed eight times to help Leinster top the league table with only team-mate Rob Russell (10) registering more.
However while the Blues finished first in the regular season, they lost at the semi-final stage for the second successive year with Munster claiming their scalp at the Aviva Stadium earlier this month.
In scoring four tries in the 42-10 Round 2 win over Benetton at the RDS Arena, including a 28-minute hat-trick, Sheehan equalled the BKT URC record number by an individual in a game - becoming the eighth player, and first from Leinster, to achieve that feat.
He also claimed a brace as Leinster suffered Heineken Champions Cup final heartache for the second successive season after losing 27-26 to holders La Rochelle in Dublin last Saturday.
Sheehan has been capped 17 times by Ireland and was part of the team which registered an historic tour success against New Zealand last summer.
In addition, he went over twice as Ireland clinched Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam success in Dublin for the first time with a battling 29-16 bonus-point victory over 14-man England in March.
Further to his BKT URC recognition, the Dubliner was nominated for the Men’s XVs Players’ Player of the Year and Men’s Young Player of the Year in the Rugby Players Ireland Awards.
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)
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