Aoife Wafer aiming to be the best in the world after picking up Guinness RWI award
The Leinster star is still only 21 but has been producing superb performances at Test level for Ireland and, with the World Cup finals to come next year, has her sights set for success
Aoife Wafer insists she still has a lot of work to do to become one of the best players in the world.
But given her body of work in 2024 it feels like the 21-year-old is there now, such has been the level of her inspirational performances for Ireland that last night earned her the Guinness RWI Player of the Year award.
It has been quite the journey for the back row warrior from Wexford from seven years ago, when she was an "absolute fan-girl" at the 2017 World Cup finals held in Ireland before having to battle back from injury to the top. "I was just a kid sitting on the sideline asking people for autographs," Wafer smiled.
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She will be central to Ireland's return to the world stage in next year's finals in England, after they finished third in the Six Nations this year. "Seeing that sign saying that we had qualified was absolutely incredible. That’s dream stuff," said Wafer.
“It’s absolutely amazing to be qualified but I don’t think we as a team are happy with just qualifying. We want to go and be successful. We want to do big things in this World Cup and we believe that we’re able to do that.”
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Ireland's WXVI victory over reigning world champs New Zealand in Canada at the end of September has whetted the appetite. "We feel the whole country behind us now," she said. "It’s pretty special.
"It’s not that long ago that I was in those kids’ shoes and looking up to the likes of Claire Molloy and Fi Coghlan and all of these absolute stalwarts of Irish women’s rugby.
"To be asked for photos and autographs is just something that I can’t describe. It’s just a special feeling. It’s pretty cool. Am I happy with my objectives or have I reached my goals? No, I wouldn’t say so.
"I think there’s still a lot more to come from this team and I think everybody is desperate to be part of a successful Irish team and the next step in that is the Six Nations. But there’s another big goal at the end of 2025 and that’s what we’re building towards.
"Personally, I want to be one of the best in the world and I still have a lot of work to do to be that, so yeah, I just have to keep growing as a person and a player, to keep being curious and asking questions and being vulnerable and seeing my ranking improve and just get back to the graft.”
Accepting the RWI award, Wafer paid tribute to her club and Test colleagues. "Even, like, going through injuries, it gets very lonely and very dark very quickly and I wouldn’t be back in the green jersey without the girls," she said.
"They’re a big reason, along with my family, behind why I’m still playing rugby and still representing Ireland and Leinster.”
Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Awards 2024 – Winners
Women’s XV Player of the Year:
- Aoife Wafer
Men’s XV Player of the Year:
- Caelan Doris
Men’s 7s Player of the Year:
- Zac Ward
Women’s 7s Player of the Year:
- Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe
Dave Guiney Team of the Year:
- Ireland Senior Men’s team
Club of the Year:
- Ballyclare RFC
Tom Rooney Award:
- Gerry Kelly
Hall of Fame Inductees:
- Joy Neville
- Keith Wood
Fred Cogley Award:
- Edmund Van Esbeck
- Len Dinneen
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