The 26-year old Ospreys star, who has won 28 caps for Ireland, saw off competition from Welsh internationals Aled Brew and Bradley Davies as well as Cardiff Blues No. 8 Xavier Rush.

The award comes hot on the heels of Bowe’s selection as the Irish Rugby Union Players' Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and this year’s RBS 6 Nations Player of the Championship after helping Ireland to second in the competition.

And the former Ulster winger, who is the Magners League’s all-time leading try-scorer, can add another trophy to his cabinet when Ospreys take on Leinster in the inaugural Magners League Grand Final in Dublin on May 29.

Ospreys go into the final on the back of three consecutive victories but face a tall order to overcome a Leinster side who haven’t lost to a non-Irish Magners League opponent at the Royal Dublin Society since October 2007.