Dan Leavy and James Ryan scoop Player of the Year awards

Leinster forwards Dan Leavy and James Ryan were the big winners at the Leinster Awards Ball on Tuesday evening with Leavy claiming the Players’ Player of the Year award while Ryan was named the province's Young Player of the Year.

The awards cap an incredible year for both players who only received their first Six Nations starts earlier this year before they were later crowned as Grand Slam champions. Ryan has yet to lose a game of professional rugby, domestic or international, since making his Ireland debut last summer while Leavy has cemented his place as Leinster's first choice openside flanker after splitting time between the bench and the blindside to start the season. Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said that the accolades were well deserved for both players and that the honours would mean that much more to them given the fact that they were voted upon by their peers.

“I think it’s been a great night overall and great to look back over the season to date and to acknowledge some really big contributions," Cullen told the club's website. “I am delighted for Dan and James. This is very much a squad effort and nothing would be possible without the contributions of each and every one of the 53 players we have used this season but I think we can all see that Dan and James have had outstanding years and I congratulate them both. "The award is probably that bit more special as it has been voted for by their fellow players.”

Elsewhere former Leinster and Ireland player Paul McNaughton, who played 15 times for Ireland and was Team Manager for the Grand Slam in 2009, was inducted into the Leinster Rugby Hall of Fame for 2018.