Marcell Coetzee’s outstanding performances in the 2019-20 season have been acknowledged with three awards in the virtual Heineken Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony, which took place on Tuesday.
Coetzee picked up awards for URSC Player of the Season, Rugby Writers’ Player of the Year, and Heineken Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year, after an incredible season which saw him make 506 metres, 273 carries, 199 tackles and 19 turnovers in 28 appearances for the Ulster men.
Coetzee lost out to John Cooney, who also had a stellar season, scoring 184 points and 10 tries in 33 appearances for Ulster, earning him the Bank of Ireland Player of the Year Award.
Academy back row and Ireland U20s captain, David McCann collected the Academy Player of the Year, having been an integral part of the Ulster ‘A’ team that reached the Celtic Cup final in October.
Ethan McIlroy, who was recently promoted to the Ulster Academy for the 2020-21 season, scooped the Kukri Sports Ulster ‘A’ Player of the Year. McIlroy’s excellent performances for the Ulster ‘A’ team led to his senior Ulster debut versus Leinster at the RDS in December.
22-year-old, Tom O’Toole was named the Openreach Young Player of the Year, following a meteoric rise in the 2019-20 season. In an incredible 38 games, the tighthead has scored two tries, made 170 tackles and 100 carries. O’Toole caught the attention of Ireland Head Coach, Andy Farrell, and was called up to the Six Nations development squad in February.
Ulster and Ireland scrum-half, Kathryn Dane picked up the Deloitte Women’s Player of the Year Award, having been involved in all of Ulster’s Inter-Pro games in August 2019, and starting in all three of Ireland’s Six Nations games, before the rugby season was suspended.