It's been a great year for Irish rugby, between the Six Nations Grand Slam for the national team and Leinster within reach of a fourth Heineken Cup/European Rugby Champions Cup crown.
But that success has to be built on the grassroots and that's where the Ulster Bank Leagues come in.
On Thursday, May 17th, key performers and local club heroes will be recognised at the Ulster Bank League Awards which take place at the Aviva Stadium, with Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt on hand to present the awards to the winners which span across 16 different categories.
There are a few new awards to be won too with the introduction of a new category, the #UBL Try of the Season, which will pick a winner from all the #UBL Tries of the month from during the season.
The Provincial Player of the Year awards will be chosen by public vote.
#UBLAwards18
2017/18 ULSTER BANK LEAGUE AWARDS SHORTLIST NOMINATIONS:
Ulster Bank League Division 1A Player of the Year
- Neil Cronin (Garryowen FC)
- Eamon Mills (Lansdowne FC)
- Adam Leavy (Lansdowne FC)
- Tomás Quinlan (Cork Constitution FC)
Ulster Bank League Division 1A Rising Star Award
- Alan Tynan (Young Munster)
- Bill Johnston (Garryowen FC)
- Charlie Rock (Lansdowne FC)
- Alex McHenry (Cork Constitution)
Ulster Bank League Division 1A Coach of the Year
- Brian Hickey (Cork Constitution FC)
- Mike Ruddock (Lansdowne FC)
- Conan Doyle (Garryowen FC)
- James Blaney (Terenure College RFC)
Ulster Bank League Division 1B Player of the Year
- Will Leonard (Shannon RFC)
- Tony Cusack (Shannon RFC)
- Andrew Morrison (Banbridge RFC)
- Paul Kiernan (UCC RFC)
Ulster Bank League Division 2A Player of the Year
- Rory Campbell (Malone RFC)
- Fintan O’Sullivan (Highfield RFC)
- Cormac Fox (City of Armagh)
- Brian Murphy (Galwegians)
Ulster Bank League Division 2B Player of the Year
- Tommy O’Hagan (Rainey Old Boys RFC)
- Val McDermott (Old Crescent RFC)
- Seaghan Gleeson (Old Crescent RFC)
- Eoin King (Navan RFC)
Ulster Bank League Division 2C Player of the Year
- Manu Parkin (Sligo RFC)
- Shane Boyle (Sligo RFC)
- Evan Cusack (Thomond RFC)
- Stuart McCain (Omagh Accies RFC)
Ulster Bank – Club P.R.O. of the Year
- Frank Larkin (Old Crescent RFC)
- Carl Blake (Galwegians RFC)
- Chris Moore (Queens University)
- Katie McCloskey (Shannon RFC)
Ulster Bank Provincial Player of the Year - Across all UBL divisions (Public Vote)
Munster Nominees
- Neil Cronin (Garryowen FC)
- Tomás Quinlan (Cork Constitution)
- Val McDermott (Old Crescent RFC)
- Will Leonard (Shannon RFC)
Leinster Nominees
- Adam Leavy (Lansdowne FC)
- Eamon Mills (Lansdowne FC)
- Harry Brennan (Lansdowne FC)
- Jake Swain (Terenure College RFC)
Ulster Nominees
- Andrew Morrison (Banbridge RFC)
- Caleb Montgomery (Banbridge RFC)
- Rory Campbell (Malone RFC)
- Stuart McCain (Omagh Accies RFC)
Connacht Nominees
- Manu Parkin (Sligo RFC)
- Shane Boyle (Sligo RFC)
- Brian Murphy (Galwegians RFC)
- Martin Staunton (Buccaneers RFC)
