The Leinster stalwart received the news less than 48 hours after he helped his side secure a top-of-the-table Magners League finish with a thrilling 37-28 win over Edinburgh.

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 is set to retire at the end of the season.

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

Dempsey will be hoping to go out with another bang when Leinster take on rivals Munster at the RDS in their Magners League semi-final this weekend.

Victory over Tony McGahan’s side will give Dempsey his third league winners’ medal in a career which has seen him capped 85 times by his country, scoring 95 points.