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Players’ Player of the Year award is a ‘great honour’ – Coetzee

Ulster's Marcell Coetzee has been named as the PRO14 Players' Player of the Tournament. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Expand

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Ulster's Marcell Coetzee has been named as the PRO14 Players' Player of the Tournament. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Ulster's Marcell Coetzee has been named as the PRO14 Players' Player of the Tournament. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Ulster's Marcell Coetzee has been named as the PRO14 Players' Player of the Tournament. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Jonathan Bradley

Ulster’s departing star Marcell Coetzee has described being named the PRO14 Players’ Player of the Year as “a great honour”.

The Springbok back-rower, who will leave the northern province for the Bulls at the end of the season, finished joint top try-scorer (on nine with Scott Penny and Alex Wootton) in the competition despite missing the conclusion of the campaign through injury.

“It’s a great honour and privilege to accept this award given the talent in this year’s Guinness PRO14,” said the 29-year-old ahead of Sunday’s Challenge Cup last-16 tie at Harlequins.

“As we all know, rugby is a team sport so I want to thank my coaches and team-mates for always investing time and energy to help me grow as a player. Every time I get to go out there is always special.”

In a PRO14 Team of the Year selection that boasted 13 players from the Irish provinces, Coetzee was joined by three of his Ulster team-mates.

Eric O’Sullivan got the nod at loosehead with Mike Lowry rewarded for something of a breakthrough campaign at full-back.

John Cooney’s selection at scrum-half was his fourth in succession since joining the province.

Ulster, who finished second to Leinster in Conference A, had the largest representation of any club in the Team of the Year, with Leinster, Connacht and Ulster each contributing three players.

Leo Cullen’s side, who claimed their fourth title in succession with last weekend’s final win against Munster, were represented by tighthead Michael Bent, left wing Dave Kearney and openside Penny.

Munster’s leading trio consisted of Damian de Allende at inside centre, Billy Holland in the second-row and Kevin O’Byrne at hooker, while Connacht’s selection included Wootton (right wing), Jack Carty (out-half) and Gavin Thornbury (second-row).

Glasgow outside centre Huw Jones and Cardiff Blues blindside flanker Josh Turnbull completed the selection.

The team was selected by a pool of 75-plus media from across Ireland, the UK, Italy and South Africa, including reporters, broadcasters, former players and coaches were invited to vote in order to assemble the final XV.

PRO14 TEAM OF THE YEAR – M Lowry (Ulster); A Wootton (Connacht), H Jones (Glasgow Warriors), D de Allende (Munster), D Kearney (Leinster); J Carty (Connacht), J Cooney (Ulster); E O’Sullivan (Ulster), K O’Byrne (Munster), M Bent (Leinster), B Holland (Munster), G Thornbury (Connacht); J Turnbull (Cardiff Blues), S Penny (Leinster), M Coetzee (Ulster).

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