The 2021 Women’s Six Nations delivered a Championship like no other as defending champions England emerged triumphant from the first ever Finals Day.
Breath-taking tries, action-packed matches and drama ensured the 2021 Championship provided non-stop entertainment across four weekends in its own standalone window.
The Red Roses overcame France in the showpiece event to clinch the title for a third consecutive year after both sides topped their pools in the brand-new format for this year.
And now all that remains is for the 2021 Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship, presented by Guinness, to be chosen by you, following in the illustrious footsteps of inaugural winner Emily Scarratt.
Selected by an expert panel of current coaches, captains, ex-players and members of the media, the three nominees – as announced live on The Nick and Mo Show – are: England’s Zoe Aldcroft and Poppy Cleall and France’s Caroline Boujard.
Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship 2021 Voting has now closed
A. Zoe Aldcroft (England)
Zoe Aldcroft made herself indispensable to Simon Middleton during the 2021 Women’s Six Nations, starting all three games as England retained the Championship title.
The 24-year-old was in the thick of the action from the opening game, making 11 carries for 76 metres and 14 tackles as England defeated Scotland 52-10 in their curtain-raiser.
Having been described as “exceptional” by Middleton for her display at Castle Park, Aldcroft was one of the few players who kept her place in the team for the Round 2 clash with Italy.
Zoe Aldcroft voted Women’s Six Nations Player of Finals Day
Moved to lock as the Red Roses rotated their pack, she demonstrated her versatility as she made another eight carries for 29 metres along with 13 tackles – the joint-most from an England player.
But Aldcroft saved her best performance for the biggest stage as she was named Player of the Match for her display in the final as England defeated France 10-6 at The Stoop.
Aldcroft racked up another 14 carries for 46 metres against Les Bleues while she crunched into a further 15 tackles – with fans voting her the overwhelming Player of Finals Day as a result.
B. Caroline Boujard (France)
No one found the try line more frequently than France’s Caroline Boujard in the 2021 Women’s Six Nations as the electrifying winger lit up the Championship time and again.
She made history in Les Bleues’ opening game of the campaign, crossing the whitewash three times in 14 minutes as her team defeated Wales 53-0 at the Stade de la Rabine.
Her hat-trick is believed to be the joint-fastest in Women’s Six Nations history, alongside Kat Merchant’s own quickfire treble for England against Scotland in 2009.
Blistering Boujard hat-trick: A history-making 14 minutes
Boujard finished the contest in Vannes with 11 carries for 132 metres but she was only getting started as she delivered another blockbuster performance in Dublin in Round 3.
Scoring a try at the start of either half, Boujard was once again in scintillating form as she cut through the Ireland defence repeatedly in the 56-15 victory at Energia Park.
Her stats from the game were just as impressive as her first outing, carrying eight times for 120 metres and while her influence was limited by England’s defence in the final, she still finished with the second-most carries and metres run on her team.
C. Poppy Cleall (England)
You have to be a special player to keep England legend Sarah Hunter out of the team and it’s safe to say Poppy Cleall more than lived up to that billing in the 2021 Championship.
A force to be reckoned with from the first round, the No.8 made 19 carries for 107 metres and scored a try in England’s victory over Scotland to be named Player of the Match.
Cleall declares Bernadou challenge on her “tackle of the tournament”
It was a performance that prompted Red Roses head coach Middleton to describe her as “brilliant”, “sensational” and one of the best players in the world.
While she was named on the bench as England rotated for their Round 2 clash with Italy, No.8 Cleall still managed 10 carries for 61 metres from her 27 minutes on the pitch.
And she capped off a Championship to remember with the match-winning try in the final as the Red Roses overcame a stubborn France side to seal their third consecutive title.
Cleall showed her vision to take a quick-tap penalty before offloading brilliantly and picking up the ball from the next breakdown to barge over as she put her body on the line for the win.
