Latest news with #GuinnessWomen'sSixNationsPlayeroftheChampionship
Irish Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ireland's star player explains reason for Premiership move after Rugby World Cup
Aoife Wafer believes her move to Harlequins will help her become the world's top player. Wafer, 22, is leaving the IRFU's full-time set-up for life in the Premiership after the World Cup in August and September of this year. However the 2025 Guinness Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship was in high demand after a series of player of the match displays at Test level. Wafer was also named in the 2024 World Rugby XVs Dream Team after superb displays for Ireland in the WXV1 last year. The Wexford-born Blackrock College, Leinster and Wolfhounds star explained the reasons why she has chosen Quins as her next destination. 'The history that the club is steeped in is something that really stood out to me. I'm really looking forward to being here and I can't wait to get going," said the hard to stop No.8. "This league has all the star players in the world in it. I want to be the best player in the world, and I can't wait to test myself out against those stars every week. 'I was very lucky to come over to a game a few months ago and meet some of the girls and the family values were something that really stood out to me. "That's really important to me, and I know that my family will be well looked after over here as well. Hopefully what people have seen on the international stage is what they'll get from me at Quins! "I'm going to be working incredibly hard to be the best version of myself and hopefully that can really benefit the team, because at the end of the day, it's not about me, it's about whole team.' Wafer made her Ireland debut in 2022 and has been a central figure in the effort to secure consecutive third place finishes in the Six Nations, as well as qualification for the WXV1 tournament last season and the World Cup. However she will join fellow Ireland stars Dorothy Wall, Neve Jones and Cliodhna Molony cross-channel in the autumn. IRFU Head of Women's Performance & Pathways Gillian McDarby said: 'We're pleased for Aoife as she takes this next step in her career with Harlequins, where she will have the opportunity to further her development in a high-performance environment. 'Her journey is a testament to the investment and progress within the Irish system, which continues to produce talent capable of performing at the highest level. We look forward to continue working with Aoife in green during the international windows.' Quins head coach Ross Chisholm is delighted to have captured the signing of a player he has long admired. 'We saw Aoife break through on the international scene and saw that the way she plays the game really suits the brand of rugby we want to play here too," said Chisholm. "We've watched her on her journey over the last few years and seen the progression she has had. She's announced herself as a real world-class operator.' 'We want people here who are going to fit into our environment and also feel like they belong in it and with Aoife, we feel like it's a perfect fit. "When we are looking at recruitment, we always look at how players will fit into the Harlequins DNA, and with Aoife, it's clear that she really suits our style and the way we want to play. I'm delighted that she is going to be with us next season."
Irish Examiner
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Aoife Wafer named Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship
Ireland back-row Aoife Wafer has been named the 2025 Guinness Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship after an outstanding tournament which saw her get 41% of the fan vote. Wafer was on the short list alongside England winger Abby Dow, France second-rower Manaè Feleu and Scotland back-rower Evie Gallagher. All four were voted on the 2025 Team of the Championship with their performance statistics and chart-topping number of fan votes securing them the top four places on the shortlist for the coveted award. Over 18,546 supporoters casted their votes with the Ireland and Leinster start narrowly seeing off Feleu by 333 votes to claim the 2025 award. Wafer was joint-second highest try scorer with four tries to add to her impressive 12 tries in 15 caps for Ireland. 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 2025 Championship making a staggering 424.7 metres while beating 17 defenders the second highest of any forward in the Six Nations. Speaking on winning the award Wafer said '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; 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 2 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. "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 6 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.'
