Offaly's Fryday shortlisted for try of the year award
Kilcormac native and Ireland rugby international Nichola Fryday has been nominated for the Energia AIL Women’s Try of the Year award.
A former player with Tullamore RFC, Nichola now plays with the Dublin-based Old Belvedere club. Fryday has 14 Ireland caps, having made her debut against Canada in 2016, and her first Six Nations involvement was in 2017. She only took up rugby when studying agricultural science in UCD.
Nichola was Connacht captain this season and she is one of four players shortlisted for the try of the year award.
Fryday is nominated for the try she scored for Old Belvedere against Suttonians, for which she won the Energia AIL Try of the Month award for February.
Overall, the Energia AIL awards shortlist and full line-up of special guests have been revealed ahead of the virtual rugby awards which will be broadcast this Friday, May 8 at 8pm across Energia’s YouTube and Facebook channels.
Irish internationals Peter O’Mahony, Keith Earls, Joey Carbery and Jordan Larmour and Ireland rugby head coach Andy Farrell will be presenting awards on the night.
This year’s awards, hosted by comedian Mario Rosenstock alongside some of his favourite rugby impersonations, will celebrate action both on and off the pitch.
Energia AIL award shortlists include the following:
Energia AIL Men’s Player of the Year
*Div. 1A: Brian Hayes, Cork Constitution
*Div. 1B: Miah Cronin, Highfield
*Div. 2A: Brad Roberts, Rainey OB
*Div. 2B: Killian Marmion, Greystones
*Div. 2C: Paul O’Loghlen, Skerries
Energia AIL Women’s Player of the Year
*Hannah O’Connor – Blackrock College
*Chloe Pearse – UL Bohemian
*Steph Carroll – Railway Union
Energia AIL Men’s Try of the Year award
*Conor O’Brien – Nenagh Ormond RFC
*Peter Cashel – Dungannon RFC
*Jack Crowley – Cork Constitution FC
*Kelvin Brown – Shannon RFC
*Scott Finlay – Malone RFC
Energia AIL Women’s Try of the Year award
*Nichola Fryday – Old Belvedere RFC
*Alana McInerney – UL Bohemian RFC
*Stephanie Nunan – UL Bohemian RFC
*Jenni Burke – Blackrock College
Other awards on the evening include Rising Star of each division, Coach of the Year, Women’s Coach of the Year, Club Scene Award, and the new Energia Positive Energy Award, which will be awarded to the team or player who has embraced the positive energy mentality and went above and beyond for the league.
Energia are hosting the virtual awards to give everyone involved in rugby and the league something to celebrate during these challenging times. In the current unprecedented climate where sport has been postponed, Energia said it is determined to bring everyone together from the safety of their home for the first virtual Energia AIL Awards.