Ireland number eight Aoife Wafer has been named Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship following a public vote.
The back-rower now becomes the first-ever player to win the award in back-to-back years, after previously claiming the gong in 2025, and beat Red Roses captain Meg Jones, France scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus and Italy back-rower Francesca Sgorbini in the process. All four nominees made the official Team of the Championship as well.
Wafer, who helped Ireland secure a third-placed finish in the Championship, received 40% of the 15,000 votes after a strong individual campaign in which she finished second for carries (78), joint-top for dominant tackles (8) and post-contact metres (129), and joint-third for tries (five).
Aoife Wafer named Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship
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Commenting on the award, Wafer said: “I don’t even know what to say. Last year, I was the first-ever Irish woman and the youngest to do it, and to back it up is pretty special. The girls back home will agree with me that these sort of things don’t happen without them.
“I’m just grateful that I’m part of an incredible team, and I get to come back to Quins and be a part of an incredible team here too.”
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Kevin Potts, Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) CEO, added: “Aoife is a truly world-class player and her achievement in being named Guinness Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship for a second consecutive year is truly exceptional and a testament to her consistency, work rate and impact at the highest level.
“To stand out in such a competitive field of world-class players speaks volumes about her quality and mindset.”
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Also commenting, Paddy Carberry, Global Sports Marketing Manager for Guinness, added: “Aoife’s performances throughout this year’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations have been nothing short of exceptional. Her relentless work rate and leadership on the pitch embody the very spirit of the Championship — combining physical dominance with relentless drive and clarity of purpose.
“To be recognised by fans for a second consecutive year speaks volumes, not only about her consistency at the highest level, but also the connection she has built with supporters of the game. Aoife continues to raise the standard and inspire, and we’re incredibly proud at Guinness to see her legacy grow as a back-to-back Player of the Championship.”