(Reuters) – England captain Marlie Packer was recognized as the World Rugby women’s 15s Player of the Year. This acknowledgment came moments after England’s victory over New Zealand in the final match of the inaugural WXV 1 competition held in Auckland on Saturday.
Packer, known for her dominance in the back row, achieved the highest number of tries in women’s test rugby this year with a remarkable tally of 11.
The 34-year-old led England to their fifth consecutive women’s Six Nations title earlier this year, securing a Grand Slam. She also emerged as one of the top try scorers in the previous year’s World Cup, where England finished as runners-up.
World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont commented, “This is the largest year for women’s international test matches, marking the beginning of a new era leading up to the expanded Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2025. We have witnessed outstanding performances in events like the Six Nations, Pacific Four Series, and most recently, WXV, where the finest athletes excelled on the grandest stage. All the nominees have had a remarkable impact on the game this year.”
In addition to Packer’s recognition, New Zealand’s Katelyn Vahaakolo received the women’s Breakthrough Player of the Year award for her successful transition from rugby league to rugby union last year.
Tyla Nathan-Wong, another New Zealander, was honored with the women’s Sevens Player of the Year award. Meanwhile, Italy’s Sofia Stefan secured the Try of the Year award based on a fan vote conducted on social media platforms.
Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; editing by Pritha Sarkar
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