VI Nations Tournament 2023: France's Gabrielle Vernier voted best player of the competition

Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credit: Glyn KIRK / AFP 17:42 p.m., May 18, 2023

Blagnac center Gabrielle Vernier has been voted best player of the Women's VI Nations Tournament, which Les Bleues finished at the end of April in second place behind England, the organizing committee announced Thursday in a statement. Vernier (25 years, 38 caps) succeeds her compatriot Laure Sansus, who was the first French last year to receive this distinction, created in 2020, after the English Emily Scarratt (2020) and Poppy Cleall (2021).

With nearly 40% of the vote, she is ahead of England's Marlie Packer and Holly Aitchison, as well as Welshwoman Sisilia Tuipulotu. The player, the only Frenchwoman to have played all five matches of the tournament, finished the competition in third place for the number of tries scored (5), behind the "Red Roses" Marlie Packer (7) and Abbie Dow (6).

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Top statistics

Vernier, who had already flown over the World Cup in the autumn in New Zealand, which the Blues finished in third place, trusts the first places in the statistical department She is thus the first Tricolor in terms of crossings (7), defenders beaten (20) and the second for passes after contact (8), behind the neo-retired Jessy Trémoulière (10). Despite her "pocket" format (1.65 m for 64 kg), she also made 55 tackles, which places her in third place among the French, behind third line Charlotte Escudero (72) and hooker Agathe Sochat (63).

"Winning the trophy for best player of the tournament is a huge honour, but it also belongs to all my teammates, because our campaign this year was a collective effort," said the Blagnacaise, quoted in the statement of the organizers. Vernier is also on the All-Star team for the Tournament, alongside two other Blues, centre Marine Ménager and scrum-half Pauline Bourdon.