Rugby: Three Kiwis named in PRO 14 Dream Team

Leinster's James Lowe in action. Photo / Photosport

Three New Zealanders have been selected in the PRO14 rugby competition Dream Team.

Former Chiefs and Tasman winger James Lowe (Leinster), former Hurricanes flanker Callum Gibbins (Glasgow Warriors) and Kiwi-born Wales international Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets) were announced as part of the Dream Team at the Pro14 awards.

Lowe – a Kiwi rugby fan favourite – helped Leinster win the PRO14 European Champions Cup double in his first season in Irish rugby, scoring 10 tries in 13 games. He left New Zealand in October last year following Tasman's Mitre 10 Cup final loss to Canterbury.

Gibbins also had a standout season for Glasgow and has been named co-captain for their 2018-19 campaign, while Parkes has been a key player for the Scarlets since 2014, having played 80 games with the Welsh side.

Parkes' Scarlets teammate Tadhg Beirne won the Players' PRO14 player of the season.

2017/18 PRO14 AWARDS - LIST OF WINNERS:

Players' Player of the Season: Tadhg Beirne (Scarlets)
Coach of the Season: Leo Cullen (Leinster)
Young Player of the Season: Jordan Larmour (Leinster)
Chairman's Award: Ed Jackson (Dragons)
Golden Boot Award: Fred Zeilinga (Toyota Cheetahs)
PRO14 Dream Team Captain: Callum Gibbins (Glasgow Warriors)
Top Try Scorer: Barry Daly (Leinster)
Tackle Machine: Olly Robinson (Cardiff Blues)
Ironman: Giulio Bisegni (Zebre)
FairPlay Award: Scarlets

2017/18 PRO14 DREAM TEAM:

15. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh)
14. Jordan Larmour (Leinster)
13. Nick Grigg (Glasgow Warriors)
12. Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)
10. Rhys Patchell (Scarlets)
9. John Cooney (Ulster)
1. Rob Evans (Scarlets)
2. Torsten van Jaarsveld (Toyota Cheetahs)
3. Andrew Porter (Leinster)
4. Scott Fardy (Leinster)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Scarlets)
6. Aaron Shingler (Scarlets)
7. Callum Gibbins (Glasgow Warriors) (capt)
8. Jack Conan (Leinster)