Joe Schmidt – Ireland Rugby Football Union Manager – wins Philips Sports Manager of the Year Award 2018

Brendan Griffin, TD Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, and Joao Pola, CEO of Signify UK & Ireland, presented Mr. Schmidt with the award at a special luncheon in the Intercontinental Hotel Ballsbridge in Dublin.

Signify in Ireland (formerly Philips Lighting Ireland), the world leader in lighting,today named Joe Schmidt, Manager of the Ireland Rugby Football Union Team, as winner of the Philips Sports Manager of the Year for 2018.

In what was a stellar year for Irish sport, the judging panel – consisting of eminent representatives of Ireland’s leading sports media – had a difficult decision with regards to selecting a winner. Ultimately, the achievements of Joe Schmidt won out over the eleven other distinguished monthly winners (detailed below).

In March 2018, the Ireland Rugby Football Union team won their third Six Nations Grand Slam in the country’s history – sealed with a 24-15 win against England a Twickenham, London. This was followed in June with the team’s first series win in Australia since 1979. This outstanding year for Irish Rugby was capped with a clean sweep of Autumn International wins, including a stunning first victory(16-9) over the All Blacks on Irish soil in November.

Brendan Griffin, TD Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, and Joao Pola, CEO of Signify UK & Ireland, presented Mr. Schmidt with the 2018 award at a special luncheon in the Intercontinental Hotel Ballsbridge in Dublin today.

In attendance were the other Sports Managers who have won Monthly Awards this year, as well as representatives from Irish Sporting Bodies, the Media and Customers of Signify.

Signify became the new company name of Philips Lighting BV as of May 16, 2018. In line with this, the Sports Manager Awards will change as of 2019 to become the ‘Signify Sports Manager of the Year Awards’, as announced by UKI CEO Joao Pola today.

Philips Sports Manager of the Month Winners – 2018

Month Winner Name Team Achievement
Dec Ross Glavin Moorefield GAA Leinster Club Football Title Winners
Jan Mark Ingle DCU Mercy Ladies Basketball National Cup Title winners
Feb Joe Schmidt Ireland Rugby Team Six Nations & Grand Slam Winner
Mar Gordon Elliott Horse Racing 8 wins at Cheltenham & Grand National
Apr Willie Mullins Horse Racing Champion Trainer for 12th Time
May Leo Cullen Leinster Rugby European Champions & Guinness Pro 14
June Joseph O’Brien Horse Racing Trainer Irish Derby Winner
July Graham Shaw Ireland Women’s Hockey World Cup Finalists
Aug John Kiely Limerick Senior Hurling Team Winner All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
Sept Jim Gavin Dublin Senior Football Team Winner All Ireland Senior Football Championship
Oct Stephen Kenny Dundalk F.C League of Ireland & FAI Cup Champions
Nov Zauri Antia Irish Boxing High Performance Unit Women’s World Championships Gold – Kellie Harrington