Philips Sports Manager of the Year 2009 Philips Sports Manager of the Year 2009 The Philips Sports Manager of the Year Awards for 2009 were held on Wednesday, 9 December at the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin. Declan Kidney won the award for the second consecutive year after guiding Ireland to their first Six Nations Championship since 1985, and their first Grand Slam since 1948, following up with an unbeaten autumn season against Australia, Argentina and Fiji. Kidney had won the monthly award twice during the year. Also honoured for their achievements in 2009 were Heineken Cup-winning coach with Leinster Rugby Michael Cheika, League of Ireland-winning manager Pat Fenlon,
Grand Slam (rugby union) made a Five Nations Grand Slam in 1912–13 and 1951–52. Grand Slams by touring teams have been achieved nine times: four times each by South Africa and New Zealand, and once by Australia. Australia is the only country to have lost against all four home nations, on their 1957–58 tour, also Australia lost to France on the tour. After 1984, Southern Hemisphere sides started to tour the British Isles more frequently, but to play fewer Tests on each tour, and thus there were no Grand Slam tours between 1984 and 1998. However, since 1998 Grand Slam tours have become quite