Latest news with #WomensSixNations
BreakingNews.ie
22-05-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Ireland number eight Aoife Wafer signs for Harlequins
Ireland number eight Aoife Wafer will join English Premiership side Harlequins after the Rugby World Cup. The Wexford native follows her international teammates Dorothy Wall, Neve Jones and Edel McMahon in making the move to English clubs in recent years. Advertisement Wafer was named the 2025 Women's Six Nations Player of the Year by popular vote on Monday, becoming the first Irish player to receive the accolade. She made her Ireland debut in 2022 against Italy and has since gone on to become a key figure in the Ireland team helping to secure consecutive third place finishes in the Guinness Women's Six Nations, as well as qualification for the upcoming Rugby World Cup. Wafer currently plays for Blackrock College and Leinster. Speaking about her move to Harlequins, Wafer said, '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. 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,' Advertisement '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.' 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.'
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.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
England Women's Rugby: John Mitchell's side to face France and Spain in warm-ups before World Cup
England will play two warm-up matches before their home World Cup begins later this summer. The Red Roses will host Spain at Welford Road in Leicester on 3 August, before facing France in Mont-de-Marsan a week later. John Mitchell's side beat France by just a point in a final-game thriller last month to secure a fourth consecutive Women's Six Nations Grand Slam. If England and France top their World Cup pool and win their quarter-finals they will meet in the last four in Bristol. Spain won the WXV 3 tournament last autumn to qualify for the Women's World Cup for the first time since 2017. England play the United States in the opening match of the tournament in Sunderland on 22 August.
