URC Coach of the season revealed

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Leinster boss collects the award after leading his side to victory in the Irish Shield and the top of the overall United Rugby Championship standings at the end of the regular season.

A record-breaking victory over Glasgow Warriors followed in the Final Eight but Leinster could not book a place in the Grand Final after suffering a home Final Four defeat to the Bulls on Friday.

Cullen also led Leinster to the Champions Cup final this season, with a narrow defeat to La Rochelle in Marseille.

This award was voted for by the URC’s 16 head coaches and leaves only one prize still to be announced – the Players’ Player of the Season.

"I’d like to thank the URC for the Award which I will accept on behalf of the wider coaching group and the 60 players that pulled on a Leinster Rugby jersey this year," Cullen said.

"The season most certainly did not end the way we would have liked but there were many highlights and positives over the year.

"I’d like to wish the Stormers and the Bulls the very best of luck in this weekend’s final. Having played both teams recently, it will be an intriguing final and a great way to bring the curtain down on the first season of the United Rugby Championship.

"The introduction of the four South African clubs has raised the standards and we’ll all have to raise our game to compete with them next season.

He added: "We would dearly love to be there and will watch with keen interest and we look forward to challenging for the title again next season."

It is the second prize won by a Leinster representative during the URC Awards, with Ross Byrne having been selected at flyhalf in the Dream Team.

URC Award Winners List 2021-22

Coach of the season: Leo Cullen (Leinster)

Fan’s Player of the season: Evan Roos (Stormers)

Tackle Machine: Alan O’Connor (Ulster)

Turnover King: Jac Morgan (Ospreys)

Golden Boot: Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys)

Top Try Scorer: Leolin Zas (Stormers)

Ironman: Ruan Nortje (Bulls)

Next-Gen Star of the Season: Evan Roos (Stormers)

URC Dream Team: 15 Warrick Gelant (Stormers), 14 Seabelo Senatla (Stormers), 13 James Hume (Ulster), 12 Damian Willemse (Stormers), 11 Leolin Zas (Stormers), 10 Ross Byrne (Leinster), 9 Craig Casey (Munster), 8 Evan Roos (Stormers), 7 Nick Timoney (Ulster), 6 Marcell Coetzee (Bulls), 5 Ruan Nortje (Bulls), 4 Jean Kleyn (Munster), 3 Thomas du Toit (Sharks, 2 Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls), 1 Ox Nche (Sharks)