Latest news with #Women'sSixNationsPlayeroftheChampionship
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Harlequins sign Ireland forward Wafer from Leinster
Harlequins have signed Ireland forward Aoife Wafer for the 2025-26 Premiership Women's Rugby season. Wafer, who was recently named the 2025 Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship, will join the club from Leinster after this year's World Cup, which will be held in England between 22 August and 27 September. "I think there comes a stage where you have to test yourself week in and week out against the best in the world," the 22-year-old told BBC Sport. "I can't wait to get involved into because they're just brave, physical and entertaining." Wafer, considered one of the best back-rowers in the world, will be joining an already stacked Harlequins roster which includes Scotland number eight Jade Konkel and Wales flanker Alex Callendar. But Wafer says the calibre of her new team-mates was one of most attractive aspects of the move. "This team is absolutely star-studded, especially in the back row," she added. "I just can't wait to get in and learn from them and kind of try tease a few things out of their brain and make my game better as well. Hopefully I'll be able to help them too." Ireland's Wafer wins player of Women's Six Nations Wafer and Hogan among world's best - King Conversations with the Harlequins head coach Ross Chisolm have centred around her playing six and eight. "You look at the modern-day rugby player and people can play across a number of positions," said Chisolm. "Aoife is a high-quality player; she could probably play predominantly more six and eight but it could give us a nice balance to go 'I think today we need this and tomorrow we need that' it's going to be competitive. "She is in my opinion right up there on the world stage of quality of player, the exciting thing is I still think there is room for growth. "Aoife is 22 years-old, it's crazy to think that she's able to output that ability at that age." Wafer announced her new club in a protective brace as a precaution following a minor leg injury at the end of the Six Nations. Her fitness has become increasingly significant for Ireland following injuries to back rowers Dorothy Wall and Erin King, who will both miss the World Cup. Wafer joked "it feels like the back row jerseys is cursed". "We'll really miss the girls," she said. "The physicality and the energy they bring on the field is something you just you can't get, they're key players for us. But I think it gives an opportunity to other people to really stand up and try kind of fight for a spot. "We've plenty of other players who haven't quite got the chance to get to step up into that back row, so I think it'd be interesting come to the World Cup. But yeah, we'll definitely miss the girls." Ireland face Japan in their World Cup Pool C opener on 24 August before games against Spain on 31 August and holders New Zealand on 7 September. Listen: Sport's Strangest Crimes - Bloodgate Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast
The 42
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Ireland's Aoife Wafer crowned 2025 Six Nations Player of the Championship
IRELAND'S AOIFE WAFER has been named the 2025 Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship. The backrower picks up the award after a brilliant campaign which earned her 41% of the fan vote. Wafer edged out England winger Abby Dow, France second-row Manaé Feleu and Scotland back-row Evie Gallagher for the honour. She finished as the joint-second highest try scorer with four tries, adding to her impressive tally of 12 tries in 15 caps for Ireland. Her four tries in the 2025 championship were the joint-most by any forward. Wafer also made a staggering 70 carries, the most of any player in this year's competition. '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,' said a delighted Wafer. Advertisement '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.'
