JOHNNY SEXTON\u2019S OUTSTANDING displays in guiding both Ireland and Leinster to dream seasons have earned him the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland (RWI) Player of the Year award.<\/p>\n
The out-half played an integral role in what has been a truly historic year for Irish rugby, helping Joe Schmidt\u2019s side to a Grand Slam title, first series win in Australia since 1979 and last Saturday\u2019s famous victory over the All Blacks at the Aviva Stadium.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sexton was honoured in Dublin this evening. Source: Dan Sheridan\/INPHO<\/p>\n
For Leinster, Sexton was equally influential as the eastern province claimed a fourth Champions Cup crown before adding the Guinness Pro14 title to make it a historic double-winning campaign.<\/p>\n
The 33-year-old\u2019s consistently excellent performances in the number 10 jersey for both club and country were recognised with the accolade at this evening\u2019s awards dinner in Dublin.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Sexton has delivered big moments throughout the year, none more so than that last-gasp drop-goal in Paris while his role as Ireland co-captain and now Leinster skipper is vital.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a very prestigious award to win in Ireland,\u201d he said. \u201cYou look at the list of players that have won it before, it\u2019s very pleasing that your efforts can be acknowledged.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt could have gone to many, many players with the season we had in this country, I can think of six or seven lads just off the top of my head, so I\u2019m very happy to have been chosen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sexton has also been nominated for the World Rugby Player of the Year award alongside All Blacks pair Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane and Springboks Faf de Klerk and Malcolm Marx.<\/p>\n
The winner will be announced in Monaco on Sunday, with Sexton bidding to become the first Irish player to land the prestigious award since Keith Wood in 2001.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Claire Molloy was named the RWI Women\u2019s Player of the Year for the second successive year after guiding Ireland to Six Nations wins over Italy and Wales in 2018.<\/p>\n
The flanker is currently playing for English Premiership side Wasps, and has been named to start in Saturday\u2019s November international against England at Twickenham.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cI\u2019m truly honoured to receive the award for the second year in a row,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very lucky to have great coaches and team-mates that have helped my game develop over my career. It was a year of mixed results for the Irish team, in the Six Nations we had some great results at home, but we didn\u2019t quite get the results we wanted on the road. We\u2019re looking forward to another big test next weekend in Twickenham.\u201d<\/p>\n