Celtic Challenge Stars Aoife Wafer and Aoife Dalton Named in 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations Team of the Championship.
This year, 12,639 passionate rugby fans cast their votes, marking an impressive 406% increase in engagement compared to 2024. The surge in fan participation speaks volumes about the growth of women’s rugby, not only in the stands but also in the hearts and minds of supporters worldwide. This increased engagement has also contributed to shaping the shortlist for the prestigious Guinness Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship award, which will soon be decided by the fans.
Two key members of this year’s Celtic Challenge winning side, the Wolfhounds, have been recognised for their outstanding international performances. Aoife Wafer and Aoife Dalton have both been named in the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations Team of the Championship, as voted by over 12,000 fans.
Back-row powerhouse Aoife Wafer enjoyed a standout campaign for Ireland, finishing as the joint-second highest try scorer in the Championship with four tries the joint-most by any forward. Her ball carrying impact was unmatched, topping the charts with 70 carries for 424.7 metres, cementing her reputation as one of Europe’s most dynamic forwards.
Centre Aoife Dalton also earned her place in the prestigious XV after a series of commanding performances. She made the most metres in contact of any centre (83m) and was the only player in the midfield to play all 400 minutes across the tournament, demonstrating both her resilience and critical role in Ireland’s backline.
Both players played pivotal roles in the Wolfhounds’ success in the 2024/25 Celtic Challenge, and their continued rise on the international stage is a proud reflection of the talent emerging from the league.
The shortlist of nominees for the 2025 Guinness Player of the Championship, will be announced in due course, with fans called upon to cast their votes, to crown this year’s award winner. The winner will join a famous set of names to have previously won the accolade, including England’s Ellie Kildunne and Emily Scarratt and France’s Gabrielle Vernier.
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