Kildare man Beirne nominated for European Rugby Player of the Year

Eadestown native Tadgh Beirne has been named on the shortlist for the European Player of the Year award following his stunning performances for Welsh club Scarlets in 2017.

The Kildare lock has been with the Pro14 side since 2016 when he was let go by Leinster at the end of his contract, and his influential role with Scarlets helped the reds to the Pro12 title in the 2016/17 season. The energetic second row will join Munster at the end of the season after the IRFU helped to get him to come back to Ireland, and he is likely to earn international recognition if his form stays at the high levels he has shown of late.

Also able to play in the backrow, Beirne was a viable contender for the Six Nations squad, but Joe Schmidt opted to leave him out despite a clamour of calls for his inclusion. Last weekend he was superb in the Scarlets’ Champions Cup win over Toulon which earned his adopted club a place in the quarter-final against La Rochelle, and they could be on course for a potential semi-final meeting with Leinster if results go as expected.

Leinster duo Johnny Sexton and Tadgh Furlong have also been nominated for the award, while Irish scrumhalf Conor Murray is also on the 15-man shortlist.