ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Irish star makes history at the World Rugby awards

BY Sarah Rendell  ·  Monday Nov 25, 2024

ADVERTISEMENT

Erin King became the first female Irish player to win an individual gong at the World Rugby awards by winning the breakthrough player of the year.

The forward was a part of the team who beat the Black Ferns in WXV 1 in September.

She beat out England’s Maddie Feaunati, Australia’s Caitlyn Halse and New Zealand’s Hannah King to the gong.

The Ireland star, who has also been prevalent in the sevens game, said: “I definitely wasn’t expecting that at all, didn’t even expect to be nominated. It feels surreal. I’m so lucky that I got to come into that team and obviously they set me up to succeed.

“Definitely [thanks to] my family through everything and my coaches Scott [Bemand] and TJ [Allan Temple-Jones, sevens head coach] for giving me the opportunity to play and progress and kind of believe in me. Scott for picking me and starting me.”

Elsewhere, the Player of the Year award went to England’s Ellie Kildunne.

ADVERTISEMENT

She was the Red Roses top scorer of 2024 and is the player who excites fans most when she receives the ball. The Red Roses won the Women’s Six Nations and WXV 1 in 2024.

Kildunne also played sevens rugby this year as she competed for Team GB at the Paris Olympics.

The women’s 15s try of the year went to France’s Marine Menager for her score against Canada in WXV.

And the dream women’s 15s team was: 15: Ellie Kildunne (England); 14. Abby Dow (England), 13. Slyvia Brunt (New Zealand), 12. Alex Tessier (Canada), 11. Katelyn Vahaakolo (New Zealand); 10. Holly Aitchison (England), 9. Pauline Bourdon Sansus (France); 1. Hope Rogers (USA), 2. Georgia Ponsonby (New Zealand), 3. Maud Muir (England), 4. Zoe Aldcroft (England), 5. Laetitia Royer (Canada), 6. Aoife Wafer (Ireland), 7. Sophie de Goede (Canada), 8. Alex Matthews (England).
ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles

  • 10 WEEKS AGO

    Jamie George issues one word reaction to Tommy Freeman’s assist

  • 11 WEEKS AGO

    'Some clown abused me going down the stairs at half-time' - Eddie J

  • 11 WEEKS AGO

    England return to winning ways with impressive victory over Japan



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Flying frenchman scores tremendous try for Toulon

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Young England hopeful continues to impress with double against Stade Français

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Full throttle Premiership final rematch ends in heartache

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Santiago Carreras scores a blinder in front of thrilled Kingsholm crowd

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Fans in awe as Kildunne finishes off STUNNING team try

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 11 WEEKS AGO

    Wallabies wunderkind Sua'ali' and Scotland captain Tuipulotu clash

  • 12 WEEKS AGO

    Ireland 'steal' Argentina's opening try as debate rages

  • 13 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: The biggest hit from week one of the Autumn Nations Series

  • 17 WEEKS AGO

    'Cheap shot' from Leicester Tigers vs Northampton Saints causing a stir online

  • 17 WEEKS AGO

    Wild moment leads to all in brawl during Welsh derby between Cardiff and Scarlets

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    SHOCK results in the PWR keeps top four race thrilling

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Santiago Carreras scores a blinder in front of thrilled Kingsholm crowd

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Fans in awe as Kildunne finishes off STUNNING team try

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Supporters can't believe Saracens Sharp's UNBELIEVABLE finish

  • 12 WEEKS AGO

    Fans in awe as Joyce finishes ‘impossible’ solo try

View All

Funnies

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Nightmare blunder from Exeter winger as try goes wanting

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    'A dog with a mallet up its arse could’ve written Johnny’s book' Donnacha O'Callaghan

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    ‘The knee slide was too much’ - Ben Earl reflects on THAT viral moment

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    U.S. Army Special Operations Sergeant Major makes big claim about rugby

  • 13 WEEKS AGO

    “Put that in the book” - Rieko Ioane’s explosive post reignites feud with Sexton

View All

Amateur

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Nightmare blunder from Exeter winger as try goes wanting

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Santiago Carreras scores a blinder in front of thrilled Kingsholm crowd

  • 108 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 108 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 131 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

View All

Player Features

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    RugbyDump's top five backrows in 2024

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    ‘The knee slide was too much’ - Ben Earl reflects on THAT viral moment

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Marcus Smith makes big call on his future

  • 11 WEEKS AGO

    'Eligible for England' - Fans react to South African star's contract announcement

  • 11 WEEKS AGO

    The 19-year-old named the 'future' of English rugby after win against Australia A

View All