Blagnac center Gabrielle Vernier was voted best player in the Women’s VI Nations Tournament, which Les Bleues finished at the end of April in second place behind England, the organizing committee announced in a press release on Thursday. Vernier (25, 38 selections) succeeds her compatriot Laure Sansus, who was the first Frenchwoman 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 the English Marlie Packer and Holly Aitchison, as well as the Welsh Sisilia Tuipulotu. The player, the only French player 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).
On top of the statistics
Vernier, who had already flown over the World Cup in the fall in New Zealand, which the Blues finished in third place, monopolizes the first places in the statistical department She is thus the first Tricolor in terms of crossings (7), defenders beaten (20) and second for passes after contact (8), behind newly retired Jessy Trémoulière (10). Despite her “pocket” format (1.65 m for 64 kg), she also made 55 tackles, which places her in third position among the French, behind the third line Charlotte Escudero (72) and the hooker Agathe Sochat ( 63).
“Winning the trophy for best player of the Tournament is a huge honor, but it also goes to all my teammates, because our campaign this year was a collective effort”, commented the Blagnacaise, quoted in the press release from the organizers. Vernier is also part of the typical team of the Tournament, alongside two other Bleues, center Marine Ménager and scrum half Pauline Bourdon.