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Ireland’s Aoife Wafer has made history by becoming the first Irish woman to be named the Guinness Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship, capping off a phenomenal campaign with the green jersey. The dynamic back-row earned an impressive 41% of the public vote, narrowly edging out France’s Manaé Feleu to clinch the prestigious accolade.
The announcement was made during a special event hosted by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain, aimed at celebrating and empowering young women through sport. Wafer, joined by her teammate Niamh O’Dowd, was surprised with the award and received an enormous response from attendees – many of whom are part of the next generation of aspiring female athletes.
Joining Wafer on the shortlist were England’s Abby Dow, France’s Manaé Feleu, and Scotland’s Evie Gallagher. All four were standout performers in this year’s Championship and were also selected for the 2025 Team of the Championship. However, it was Wafer’s exceptional individual statistics and passionate fan backing – over 18,500 votes cast – that secured her the top honour.
Wafer’s on-field contributions were nothing short of extraordinary. She crossed the try line four times, making her the joint-top try-scoring forward in the competition, and has now scored 12 tries in just 15 caps for Ireland. Beyond her scoring prowess, Wafer led the tournament in carries, racking up 70 for a total of 424.7 metres gained. She also beat 17 defenders, the second most by any forward in this year’s Six Nations.
Julie Paterson, Chief of Rugby at Six Nations Rugby, praised the high level of competition and the role players like Wafer play in shaping the future of the women’s game:“Congratulations to Aoife, as well as each of the nominees from this year’s shortlist. The quality of players in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations continues to show the calibre of the athletes competing at the elite level of the game, and the likes of Aoife are incredible examples for future stars of women’s rugby. With each of the Six Nations unions and federations strengthening their development pathways, through participation in the U18 Festivals, and Women’s Summer Series, those players following in the footsteps of players like Aoife makes the future of women’s rugby incredibly exciting.”
Kevin Potts, IRFU Chief Executive, echoed the sentiment:“Congratulations to Aoife Wafer on being named the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship, a truly historic and inspiring achievement. As the first Irish woman to receive this honour, Aoife has not only showcased world-class talent but also is helping to inspire future generations.”
