RG Snyman takes home the Leinster player of the year award

The annual Leinster Rugby Awards Ball was held this evening, Tuesday, 6 May 2025, in the O'Reilly Hall in UCD as Leinster Rugby stars past and present attended the black-tie event.

Hosted by MC, Joe Molloy, over 500 guests celebrated the best of the domestic and professional game over the 2024-25 season.

It was also an opportunity to say farewell to departing players and staff and to acknowledge significant contributions of those driving excellence in the club and schools game across the 12 counties of Leinster.

Linda Djougang and RG Snyman were the big winners from the senior teams as they took home the Bank of Ireland Player of the Year Awards for outstanding contributions in the blue of Leinster, while Robyn O'Connor and Sam Prendergast were deserving winners of the BearingPoint Women's Young Player of the Year Award and the LAYA Healthcare Men's Young Player of the Year Award respectively.

Other notable award winners were former Leinster President Paul Deering, who was awarded the Bank of Ireland Never Stop Competing Award for his outstanding contribution to Leinster Rugby for nearly 50 years as a volunteer, and Brian O'Driscoll who was inducted into the Guinness Hall of Fame for his outstanding on-field contributions to Leinster and of course, Irish Rugby, while Tania Rosser was also celebrated for her time as Head Coach of the Leinster Rugby Women's team who she led to back-to-back interpro titles.

Naas RFC, Longford Rugby Club, St Mary's, Edenderry and Blackrock College were the main winners in the club and schools game as Leinster Rugby celebrated their achievements over the last 12 months.

Bringing the curtain down on the event was an emotional standing ovation for and celebration of Cian Healy who will retire at the end of this season as the most capped Leinster and Irish player of all time.

His former teammates, Seán O'Brien, Paul O'Donoghue and Eoin O'Malley joined Joe Molloy on stage to reflect and share some of their memories of a brilliant player and even better friend and teammate.

Full List of Award Winners - Leinster Rugby Awards Ball

BEST Menswear Development School of the Year - St Mary's, Edenderry
Kildare Village Tackle of the Year - Tommy O'Brien
Beauchamps School of the Year - Blackrock College
Bank of Ireland Never Stop Competing, Contribution to Leinster Rugby Award - Paul Deering
Energia Supporters' Player of the Year Award - RG Snyman
Rhino Rugby Junior Club of the Year Award - Longford Rugby Club
BDO Senior Club of the Year Award - Naas RFC
Guinness Hall of Fame Award - Brian O'Driscoll
Irish Times Try of the Year Award - Sam Prendergast
BearingPoint Women's Young Player of the Year Award - Robyn O'Connor
LAYA Healthcare Men's Young Player of the Year Award - Sam Prendergast
Bank of Ireland Women's Player of the Year Award - Linda Djougang
Bank of Ireland Men's Player's Player of the Year Award - RG Snyman

Departing Players Acknowledged and Celebrated on the Night

Ross Byrne
Rory Maguire
Ben Brownlee
Aitzol Arenzana-King
Rob Russell
Liam Turner
Michael Milne
Lee Barron
Jordie Barrett
Cian Healy