Sophie Spence shortlisted for World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year

Ireland secondrow Sophie Spence has been shortlisted for the World Rugby Women's Player of the Year 2015.

The 28-year-old played a key role as Ireland claimed a second Six Nations title in three years in 2015 and was named Women’s Player of the Year at the recent Rugby Writers of Ireland awards.

Spence will face competition from France captain Gaëlle Mignot and New Zealand scrum-half Kendra Cocksedge, with the winner to be announced at the World Rugby Awards in London on November 1st.

World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "On behalf of World Rugby, I wish to extend my congratulations to Gaëlle, Kendra and Sophie for securing their Player of the Year nomination, and for their skill, power, discipline and consistency required to excel at the highest level.

“Women’s rugby is one of the fastest growing team sports in the world, and we’re focused on building on the incredible success of last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in Paris which engaged fans like never before.”