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Black Ferns co-captain aims to create history as World Rugby reveal award nominees
Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant is looking to become the first player to win World Rugby’s prestigious Women’s 15s Player of the Year twice after being nominated for the second year in a row.
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World Rugby has unveiled the nominees for three major awards ahead of the final round of matches in the inaugural WXV1 competition in New Zealand.
Demant has been named at fly-half ahead of New Zealand’s clash with England. There are two nominees from the Red Roses in captain Marlie Packer and wing Abby Dow.
France’s try-scoring phenom Gabrielle Vernier is the fourth nominee after claiming Player of the Championship honours after the Women’s Six Nations earlier this year.
“The past year has seen some momentous steps forward for the women’s game with more full-time contracts, record-breaking crowds, the announcement of the first-ever dedicated international release window and, of course, the inaugural WXV competition which has seen the very best women’s teams competing across three levels and in three regions around the globe,” World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said.
“A huge congratulations and thank you to all those nominated today who are not only inspiring fans and players on the field with their tenacious performances and infectious spirit but outside of the game with the incredible work they carry out in their communities.”
New Zealand duo Mererangi Paul and Katelyn Vahaakolo are among the contenders for the Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year award.
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Both players debuted in the black jersey against the Wallaroos during the Pacific Four Series. Paul was especially electric that day with the wing crossing for a stunning brace in Redcliffe, Australia.
France’s Carla Arbez and Scotland’s Francesca McGhie have also been put up for the accolade after impressive debut seasons at Test level.
The World Rugby Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year in partnership will be revealed on Saturday along with the three individual award winners.
The nominees:
Women’s 15s Player of the Year
Ruahei Demant (New Zealand)
Abby Dow (England)
Marlie Packer (England)
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Gabrielle Vernier (France)
Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year
Carla Arbez (France)
Francesca McGhie (Scotland)
Mererangi Paul (New Zealand)
Katelyn Vahaakolo (New Zealand)
Try of the Year
Sofia Stefan (Italy, v Ireland on 15 April)
Charlotte Escudero (France, v Wales on 23 April)
Zoe Aldcroft (England, v France on 29 April)
Mererangi Paul (New Zealand, v Canada on 8 July)
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Danny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
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