Aoife Wafer named Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship

Dynamic back-row Aoife Wafer has been named the Player of the Championship for the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations.

The 22-year-old, who is the first Irish woman to receive the award, earned 41% of the vote from over 18,546 fans to claim the title, with 333 more votes than Manaé Feleu in second place. Also nominated were England’s Abby Dow and Scotland back-row Evie Gallagher.

Wafer finished the 2025 campaign as joint-second try scorer with four tries, and sat atop the carrying table with 70 carries, which made 424.7 metres and evaded 17 defenders. 

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

With 15 Ireland caps to her name, she now has 12 tries, and her four for the tournament made her the second-highest try-scoring forward behind Teani Feleu, younger sister of Manaé.

The newly crowned Player of the Championship 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 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 six 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.”

Sharing those special moments with those who matter most 🫶💚#GuinnessW6N #GuinnessPOTC @IrishRugby pic.twitter.com/OQAncXyMnS

— Guinness Women’s Six Nations (@Womens6Nations) May 19, 2025

Chief Executive of the IRFU, Kevin Potts, added: “Congratulations to Aoife Wafer on being named the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship, a truly historic and inspiring achievement. 

“As the first Irish woman to receive this honour, Aoife has not only showcased world-class talent but also is helping to inspire future generations. I would like to pay tribute to her parents, Sam and Aidan, who I know have been a fantastic source of support for her since she took up playing rugby at a young age. Everyone at the IRFU is immensely proud of Aoife’s achievement.”

Ireland begin their Rugby World Cup 2025 campaign against Japan on 24 August (Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton) before playing Spain at the same venue on 31 August.

In their final pool stage fixture, they’ll travel to Brighton to face defending champions New Zealand – who they beat at WXV 1 last year and historically knocked out of the 2014 Rugby World Cup, on 7 September 2025.