Dempsey given Hall of Fame honour

The former Ireland full back helped his province reach the Magners League Play-Offs on Sunday night, less than 48 hours after news broke that he was to be inducted into the Irish Rugby Union Players' Association (IRUPA) Hall of Fame.

Dempsey, who started on the left wing in the thrilling Magners League win over Edinburgh that secured a top-of-the-table finish, will receive his latest honour this Wednesday.

The 34-year-old will join Irish greats such as Mick Galwey, Anthony Foley, David Humphreys and Keith Wood when he receives the honour at Dublin's Burlington Hotel.

"I am honoured to be accepting this award and joining the former players already inducted into the Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Hall of Fame," said Dempsey, who only last week announced his retirement from the professional game.

"This award means an awful lot to me especially as it comes from players I played with and against during my career."

Dempsey will no doubt be hoping for a third reason to celebrate within the space of a week when Leinster take on Munster at the RDS in the second Magners League semi-final on Saturday night.

Victory over their fellow Irish giants would give the 82-times capped Ireland star the chance of a perfect send off by ensuring that the inaugural Magners League Grand Final takes place on Irish soil on May 29.

"Girvan Dempsey has been a fantastic contributor to the game of rugby at every level," explained David Bunworth, the managing director of Bord Gáis Energy, the title sponsors of the IRUPA Hall of Fame.

"He has given us some wonderful memories and been involved in some marvelous sporting moments. I would like to wish him all the very best in his retirement and his induction into the Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to his playing career."