Kieran Crowley named Pro 14 Coach of the Year

Former Canada coach Kieran Crowley has been named Guinness Pro 14 Coach of the Year. The award is recognition of the historic success of Benetton Treviso this season, becoming the first Italian side to reach the knockout stages of the competition. This past weekend they nearly overturned Munster, the latter saved by a controversial call and subsequent penalty goal.

Crowley led Canada for 8 years beginning in 2008, taking the side to the 2011 and 2015 World Cups. After initially agreeing a two-year deal with Rugby Canada to stay on as coach in 2016, he was offered the lead role at Treviso and accepted. He has since earned highly positive reviews with many calling for him to succeed Conor O’Shea as coach of Italy.

Nine awards in all were handed out on the weekend. Player of the Year honors went to Edinburgh eightman Bill Mata, who is set to star for Fiji at the World Cup later this year. Glasgow flyhalf Adam Hastings took home the award for best young player, with former Scotland captain Ross Ford given a special Chairman’s Award.

Player of the Year – Bill Mata (Edinburgh)
Coach of the Year – Kieran Crowley (Benetton Treviso)
Chairman’s Award – Ross Ford (Edinburgh)
Next-Gen Star of the Season – Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors)
Golden Boot – Jaco van der Walt (Edinburgh)
Top Try Scorer – Rabz Maxwane (Cheetahs)
Tackle Machine – James King (Ospreys)
Turnover King – Olly Robinson (Cardiff Blues)
Iron Man – Tian Schoeman (Cheetahs)