Aoife Wafer named Six Nations player of the tournament
Ireland back row Aoife Wafer has been named as the Guinness Women's Six Nations Player of the Tournament 2025.
The Leinster forward was one of four nominees alongside England winger Abby Dow, France second row Manaé Feleu and Scotland back row Evie Gallagher.
"It means the world to me because I want to be the best in the world, and I want my name up there with those Irish women's rugby stars," said the 22-year-old Wexford woman.
"I feel that this award is a little step towards that.
"It's huge for me but also for our team; it really shows how much we have done in the last two years and how much we are growing.
"This trophy is not just mine, it's the team, it's my family, it's more so for them than it is for me."
Wafer, who was also named on the team of the tournament alongside team-mates Neve Jones and Aoife Dalton, won 41% of the fan vote to take the award.
Her four tries in the 2025 championship were the joint-most by any forward.
Wafer made 70 carries, the most of any player in the Six Nations, for a staggering 424.7 metres, beating 17 defenders in the process, the second highest of any forward in the championship, in which Ireland finished third.
Your 2025 Guinness Player of the Championship! 🤩🏆
Congratulations Aoife Wafer 💚
pic.twitter.com/PgOgF1sALW
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) May 19, 2025
She added: "I always wanted to be the best at everything I did, I wanted to make my family, my friends and my team proud.
"Ever since I was six I wanted to play for Ireland, and then, as I started growing up it became like 'you could be a professional women's rugby player in Ireland'.
"It's great to be nominated and win this trophy, and hopefully this can inspire the younger generation to pick a rugby ball or to pick up any sport as it's very important."
Scott Bemand's side will play World Cup warm-ups against Scotland and Canada at the start of August.
They face Japan, Spain and New Zealand in Pool C of the World Cup in August and September.
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