France centre Gabrielle Vernier has been named the 2023 TikTok Women’s Six Nations Player of The Championship.
In a public vote, Vernier got the better of the four-person shortlist, beating England’s Marlie Packer and Holly Aitchison and Wales’ breakthrough star Sisilia Tuipulotu.
The 25-year-old received almost half the vote, 40%, to claim the gong, following in the path of France legend Laure Sansus, who picked up the award last year.
The Blagnac centre scored five tries across the Championship, scoring in every match bar the 39-14 win over Wales and also assisted twice, while she played in every single minute.
Only Jessy Tremouliere made more offloads than her eight and no France player broke through more tackles than her 20.
Vernier said: “To win the Player of The Championship award is a huge honour, but it also belongs to all of my teammates, as our campaign this year was a collective effort.
“I would like to congratulate all the other players named on the shortlist, and there are many more names that could have been added.
“This just goes to show how much women’s rugby is developing, and the standard of rugby on show.”
The Team of the Championship was also announced, with a significant chunk taken up by France and England players after they took the Championship to a decider in front of a world record crowd at Twickenham.
Vernier was one of three France players named, joined by Marine Menager and Pauline Bourdon, while England had nine players in the team.
Captain and top try scorer Marlie Packer and winner of Sage Play of the Championship Sadia Kabeya are both included, as is Abby Dow, who won the TikTok Women’s Six Nations Try of the Championship.
Making up the team is Scotland’s Chloe Rollie and Wales’ Tuipulotu, two players who shone for their respective sides.
