Ireland's Jacob Stockdale wins 2018 BBC Sport Northern Ireland Personality of Year award

by Matthew Wood Friday 14 December 2018

Jacob Stockdale has scored 12 tries from 14 Tests for Ireland

©PA

Ireland international Jacob Stockdale has gone on to claim the 2018 BBC Sport Northern Ireland Personality of Year award.

Stockdale has amassed 12 tries in 14 Tests since his debut in 2017 and was instrumental in Ireland's Grand Slam success earlier this year where he scored seven tries that saw him win the Six Nations Player of the Year.

The 22-year-old faced tough competition from four-time World Superbike champion and 2017 winner Jonathan Rea and Ireland women’s hockey hero Ayeisha McFerran to win the award.

“It’s massive honour and unexpected,” said Stockdale of his BBC NI award.

“I’m incredibly thankful for getting picked. It’s been a very fast moving year from start to finish but it’s been really, really enjoyable,” added Stockdale, 22.

“There have been a lot of big games in there that I feel really lucky to have been a part of.”

BBC Northern Ireland head of sport Jane Tohill said the “historic nature of Jacob’s remarkable exploits in 2018 set him apart.”