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Irish Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Aoife Wafer named Six Nations player of the championship for 2025
Ireland's Aoife Wafer has been named the 2025 Six Nations player of the championship following another impressive run in green for the 22-year-old. Wafer was shortlisted for the award alongside Abby Dow (England), Manaé Feleu (France) and Evie Gallagher (Scotland). Over 18,500 fans cast their ballot for player of the championship, with the Wexford backrower claiming 41 per cent of the vote. Last month, Wafer was included in the team of the championship, in which she was joined by Ireland team-mates Neve Jones at hooker and Aoife Dalton at inside centre. Wafer scored four tries during Ireland's Six Nations campaign, which ended in a third-place finish for Scott Bemand's team, making her the joint-second highest try scorer of the tournament. READ MORE She also made 70 carries – the most of any player in this season's championship – gaining 424.7 metres and beating 17 defenders in just four games. Wafer was sidelined for Ireland's final round game against Scotland due to a knee injury. Aoife Wafer scores a try for Ireland against France in the opening round of this year's Six Nations. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho Speaking after she was presented with her award at the Mansion House in Dublin, 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 two years and how much we are growing. This trophy is not just mine, it's for the team, my family – it's more so for them than it is for me.' Six Nations Rugby's chief of rugby Julie Paterson added: '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 U-18 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.'
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ireland's Wafer named as player of Women's Six Nations
Ireland forward Aoife Wafer has been named as the Women's Six Nations player of the championship for back row earned 41% of a fans' vote, emerging as the winner from a shortlist of four other players nominated were England wing Abby Dow, France second row Manae Feleu and Scotland back row Evie 18,500 votes were cast, with Wafer edging out Feleu by just 333 finished as the joint-second highest try scorer in the Six Nations with four tries - matching the most by any forward in the took her tally to 12 tries in 15 caps for addition, she made 70 carries, the most by any player, covering 424.7 metres and beating 17 defenders - the second-highest total for a 22-year-old's performances helped Ireland secure third place in the was also named on the team of the tournament alongside team-mates Neve Jones and Aoife Dalton. 'Inspiring the younger generation' Commenting on her 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 two years and how much we are growing. This trophy is not just mine: it's for the team, it's for my family. It's more so for them than it is for me."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."Ireland will next be in action when they play World Cup warm-ups against Scotland and Canada at the start of face Japan, Spain and New Zealand in Pool C of the World Cup in August and September.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Believing is one thing, doing is another'
Ireland co-captain Edel McMahon said her side cannot "get too ahead of" themselves before facing Italy in Rome on Sunday. Scott Bemand's team lost their opener of the Women's Six Nations for the fourth season in a row against France in Belfast on Saturday but offered a strong showing in the 27-15 defeat. While the side ranked fourth in the world had scored 56 and 53 points on their two most recent visits to Ireland, the hosts were just 17-15 behind in the final 10 minutes before France put a late gloss on the scoreline. "The thing is not to get too ahead of ourselves knowing that we could have won," said McMahon, who was used as a second-half replacement. "It's actually still about showing up. You can talk and talk and talk, but if you don't action and do, you're not going to earn it. "As much as [against France] we knew we could have won that game, we still need to make sure we implement that plan. Believing is one thing, doing is another." With McMahon named as a substitute, and her fellow co-captain Sam Monaghan absent through injury, wing Amee-Leigh Costigan led the side out at Kingspan Stadium with hooker Neve Jones serving as vice skipper. McMahon felt it was "an easy pick" to have Costigan serve in her place. "Leigh is just a leader in her own right," said the flanker. "A lot of people were asking how I helped her out - you don't need to help Leigh, she's a leader in how she carries herself. "It was an easy pick for her, the same as Neve Jones." McMahon, who won her 31st cap against France, added that the pair "embody the core values of the Ireland squad.
BBC News
14-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Jones ready for 'hectic week' with club and country
Guinness Women's Six Nations: Ireland v FranceDate: Saturday, 22 March Kick-off: 13:00 GMT Venue: Kingspan StadiumCoverage: Watch on the Red Button, BBC iPlayer and online; follow live text commentary on BBC Sport NI website and app. When Neve Jones belatedly arrives into Ireland's Six Nations camp on Monday, the hooker is hoping to have travelled with something special in her hand luggage. The reason for the 26-year-old's late arrival is her participation in Sunday's Premiership Women's Rugby final where she will seek a third winners' medal in three years when her Gloucester-Hartpury side take on Saracens at StoneX the use of central contracts from the Irish Rugby Football Union has kept plenty of Jones' international team-mates in Ireland, Gloucester quickly felt like home for the Ballymena woman who made the switch from Malone RFC in 2022."It feels like I only moved over yesterday but when I look back at all the memories, there's already lots of them," she told BBC Sport NI."I'm very glad to have moved here, Gloucester have been the perfect club for me."They've helped me develop all parts of my game and grow from strength to strength as a player." Jones will again wear the number two jersey for Gloucester-Hartpury on Sunday as the side look to end Sean Lynn's tenure on a winning head of rugby will take over Wales women after the game having been a driving force behind the successes in recent seasons. "We're going to miss him. We wish him all the best going into his new job and it would be the ideal send off for him," said Jones."There's a good buzz around but we're excited to take the field and put on a performance."We'll play, hopefully win, and then fly over Monday to the rest of the girls in [Six Nations] camp and roll into another hectic week." 'We push each other to grow from strength to strength' Ireland open their campaign against France in Belfast next Saturday with Scott Bemand's side returning to action for the first time since their successful WXV1 campaign in kicked off their time in Canada with a win over New Zealand and, after a loss to the hosts, finished off with victory over came third in last year's Six Nations, securing qualification for this year's World Cup in the process, Jones believes Ireland are "adding" to their game in each Test window."Over the last 12 to 18 months, we've grown hugely as a squad," she said."I think we always know it's going to be a challenge, but when we come in together we push each other to grow from strength to strength."Every time we come together, we're adding another layer to our game."Saturday's game against France may not be the only meeting between the sides this year, with a potential World Cup quarter-final a possibility however, says Ireland remain focused on the Six Nations."At the minute we're just looking at the Six Nations, that's the next thing on the calendar and we'll start with that and build into the year as it comes."After that we can look further onto the horizon, but until then we can just take it step by step."It's a very exciting time for the women's game but as players we know that come Monday it's France week and we're building in to play them."
