Johnny Sexton wins Guinness Rugby Writers Ireland Player of the Year

Johnny Sexton better start making plenty of room on that mantelpiece of his.

Fresh from Saturday's historic victory over the All Blacks at the Aviva Stadium, Sexton was made favourite to be named the World Player of the Year. With awards season upon us, the Irish out-half is expected to continue extending his honours list and the latest prize arrived this week, with Sexton scooping the Guinness Rugby Writers Ireland Player of the Year for the second time in his career.

With the Ireland team Sexton has won the NatWest Six Nations, a Grand Slam, the Triple Crown, and a first series win on Australian soil since 1979, and with Leinster, the Guinness PRO14 and European Rugby Champions Cup. This weekend’s victory over New Zealand in Dublin, 113 years in the making, certainly helped the case of those that believe he is the world's premier outhalf. Sexton was honoured at the gala awards evening, hosted by Gavin Krenski and Rory Sheridan of Guinness, and Simon Lewis, Chairman of the Rugby Writers of Ireland. Awards were also presented to the Ireland’s Men’s National Team, Claire Molloy, Leinster Rugby and Lansdowne FC, while Gerry ‘Ginger’ McLoughlin and John O’Driscoll were inducted into the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Hall of Fame.   Sexton was delighted to receive the accolade, which was voted for by the Irish rugby media. "It’s a very prestigious award to win in Ireland," he said.

"You look at the list of players that have won it before, it’s very pleasing that your efforts can be acknowledged. It 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’m very happy to have been chosen."

The Dave Guiney Team of the Year Award was presented to the Ireland Men’s National Team who have risen to number two in the world rankings with a Grand Slam, and historic wins in Australia and at home just this weekend against the All Blacks. The team has achieved an unbeaten record of 11 tests in the Aviva Stadium and will play their final fixture for the Guinness Series on Saturday against the USA. Claire Molloy picked up the Women’s Player of the Year for a second year in a row. Flanker Molloy, the current Irish captain, plays her club rugby with Wasps. In an Irish jersey, she led the team to wins over Italy and Wales in the Six Nations earlier this year. The former Galway Minor footballer is also an Accident & Emergency doctor. "I’m very lucky to have great coaches and teammates that have helped my game develop over my career," said Molloy.

"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’t quite get the results we wanted on the road. We’re looking forward to another big test next weekend in Twickenham."

Leinster Rugby was named as Club of the Year, marking an incredible season where they claimed a historic double: beating Racing 92 in the European Cup Final in Bilbao for their record fourth title, and then two weeks later, winning the Guinness Pro14 Final against Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium. The Tom Rooney Award is awarded to a person or club who have made a significant contribution to rugby and this year it was awarded to Lansdowne FC, one of the oldest rugby clubs in Ireland. Lansdowne FC had an incredible 2017-18 winning every competition they entered at senior level. Under the guidance of Mike Ruddock, Lansdowne won the All-Ireland League, All-Ireland Cup, Leinster Senior League and Leinster Senior Cup. Two former players were inducted into the Guinness Rugby Writers Hall of Fame on the night - Gerry 'Ginger' McLoughlin and John O'Driscoll.