Player of the Year award for Offaly woman
Kilcormac native Nichola Fryday has been named as the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Women’s Player of the Year.
Fryday, who now plays for English club Exeter Chiefs, retired from international duty with Ireland last year, having had the honour of being captain of the national team.
A former Tullamore RFC player, Fryday provided strong leadership throughout a challenging final season for the Ireland women’s team. Stepping away from international level last July, Nichola enjoyed the highs and lows of the game throughout 34 appearances in green.
Named international captain in 2022, the Offaly woman has enjoyed success through her club career with Exeter Chiefs with whom she reached the Premier XVs final last season.
Speaking this week, Nichola said she was honoured to receive her award. “It is a huge privilege to be named the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Women’s Player of the Year. It has been a bittersweet season but a journey I am grateful to have been part of for the last seven years.
"I feel very proud to have captained a very special group of players with Ireland who epitomised resilience, dedication and commitment to the jersey. I would also like to thank the many people throughout my international career who supported me and made the journey a memorable one.”
Meanwhile, Connacht and Ireland centre Bundee Aki was chosen as the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Men’s Player of the Year. After a memorable season in green, Bundee featured as one of the standout players as Ireland claimed Grand Slam success, along with a gallant pursuit of World Cup glory last year.
Nominated for World Player of the Year, Aki has been in the form of his life contributing significantly for Ireland but also across the season for Connacht, both domestically in the league and on the European stage.
These awards acknowledge their achievements and consistent performances throughout the 2022/2023 season for both club and country.
The Ireland men’s team was named the Dave Guiney Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Team of the Year in recognition of their historic Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam victory last March.
Harry McNulty was awarded the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Men’s Sevens Player of the Year and Wicklow native Lucy Mulhall was chosen as the Women’s Sevens Player of the Year, the first time she has won the award.
Tyrone based club Clogher Valley RFC has been voted the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Club of the Year on the back of their achievements which include promotion to Division 2C of the All-Ireland League last season, a feat that sees the club compete in the AIL for the first time ever.
Leinster and Ireland rugby player Alex Soroka was acknowledged for his outstanding contribution through fundraising for the Ukrainian effort as he claimed the Guinness Rugby Writers Tom Rooney award.
Finally, former Ireland, Leinster and Munster player Lynne Cantwell and former Ulster and Ireland star David Humphreys have both been inducted into the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Hall of Fame.