The Guinness Ulster Rugby Awards aim to celebrate achievement and development in the game of rugby at all levels in Ulster and the award categories cover areas of school, youth, club and professional rugby, with the coveted prize of Guinness Personality of the Year going to the player, coach, official or administrator who has done the most to raise the profile of Ulster Rugby.

This year’s Award Nominees are as follows:

Bank of Ireland Ulster Player of the Year - Neil Best, Kieran Campbell, Matt McCullough

First Trust Bank Club of the Year - Ballymena RFC, Belfast Harlequins RFC, Coleraine RFC, Armagh RFC

Calor Gas Youth Player of the Year - Nigel Newell (Ballynahinch RFC), Breffni O’Reilly (Virginia RFC), Stuart Sloan (Banbridge RFC)

Club Ulster Supporters Player of the Year - Tommy Bowe, Kieran Campbell, Bryn Cunningham

Dorrington B. Faulkner Award sponsored by Perennials RFC - Bill Boomer (Donaghadee RFC), Guy McCullough (Ballymena RFC), Brian Reid (Coleraine RFC)

Northern Bank Coach of the Year - John Andrews (Rainey and Ballymena Academy), Gerald McCarter (City of derry, Ulster U21s), Brian McLaughlin (RBAI and Ballynahinch)

Downtown Radio Club PRO/Media Liaison Officer of the Year - Joan Beatty (Enniskillen), John Dickson (Ballynahinch), Willie Hogg (Instonians)

Kukri Schools Player of the Year  - William Faloon (Royal School Armagh), Richard Fegan (RBAI), David Pollock (Royal School Dungannon)

Belfast Telegraph Club Team of the Year - TBC

The Botanic Inns Merit Award and the Guinness Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year will be announced on the evening of the Awards Dinner.

“The Guinness Rugby Awards will be a fitting climax to what has been a great season,” said Terry Loughins, Corporate Sponsorship Manager, Diageo Northern Ireland. “The Awards provide us with the opportunity to enjoy and relive some of the most exciting moments of the season all over again and Guinness is proud of its long association with rugby in Ulster.' We are looking forward to the continuation of this prosperous relationship” concluded Terry.