Aoife Wafer finally has time to reflect after 'crazy year'

Aoife Wafer has been a woman on a mission this year. One that has culminated in her being named the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland women's XVs player of the year.

Having initially made her Ireland debut against Italy in the 2022 Six Nations, a ruptured hamstring saw her forced to wait a year-and-a-half for her second cap - "560 days" as Wafer puts it herself. Not that she was counting.

Easing herself back into life with the Ireland squad with an appearance off the bench against Spain last October, it wasn't until the start of this year’s Six Nations Championship that she made her first start for Ireland in a 38-17 defeat away to France.

Wafer claimed the only Irish try in that defeat in Le Mans, impressing throughout, and she has built on that platform throughout the year.

In a year where Ireland made considerable improvement in the Six Nations, Wafer was named the Irish player of the tournament and was included on a four-player shortlist for the Player of the Championship.

The Wexford backrow was also named player of the round twice across the five game weeks, as Scott Bemand’s side secured their place at the 2025 World Cup with a third placed finish,.

But more was to come as Wafer played the starring role in her country’s shock defeat World Champions New Zealand in the WXV1.

Wafer crossed the tryline twice against the Black Ferns in Vancouver and put in the standout performance on what was a famous day for Ireland.

Still just a 21-year-old, Wafer has been happy to make up for lost time this year.

"It’s kind of been a crazy year to be fair," she said. "It started off by getting my first start versus France after working my way back from a few injuries, working back into the team and trying to get back involved.

"So