Four Irish players named on URC team of the year

Five Irish provincial players have been selected on the BKT United Rugby Championship team of the year.

Munster out-half Jack Crowley, centre Alex Nankivell and lock Tadhg Beirne, Leinster wing Jordan Larmour, and Ulster scrum-half John Cooney make the selection.

Ireland fly-half Crowley, 24, was also named the competition’s ‘Next-Gen’ player of the season.

Munster wing Shane Daly was given the ‘Ironman’ award after starting all 18 games for the defending champions in the regular season, racking up 1430 minutes.

The ‘Elite XV’ was determined by a media vote with players who made at least nine appearances considered, with the media panel provided a shortlist of 10 per position by URC StatMaster.

The player with the most votes in each position earned a place in the team.

URC Elite XV

15. Warrick Gelant (Stormers)

14. Jordan Larmour (Leinster)

13. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors)

12. Alex Nankivell (Munster)

11. Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls)

10. Jack Crowley (Munster)

9. John Cooney (Ulster)

1. Ox Nche (Sharks)

2. Akker van der Merwe (Bulls)

3. Wilco Louw (Bulls)

4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster)

5. Ruan Nortjé (Bulls)

6. Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh)

7. Elrigh Louw (Bulls)

8. Cameron Hanekom (Bulls)

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Watch the URC semi-final, Bulls v Leinster, on Saturday from 2.30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player,

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