Chronicle Editor
France captain Antoine Dupont has been named the Six Nations player of the championship for the third time in four years.
The scrum-half is the second player to win the award three times, after former Ireland centre Brian O’Driscoll.
Dupont was influential for France who finished as runners-up behind Ireland.
The 26-year-old beat team-mates Thomas Ramos and Damian Penaud, and Irish Grand Slam winners Caelan Doris, Hugo Keenan and Mack Hansen, to the prize.
Dupont, who previously won the award in 2020 and 2022, claimed 26% of the fan vote on the Six Nations website.
The France skipper was also named in the team of the tournament, which was dominated by 10 Irish players.
Dupont was one of three French players in the XV, alongside Penaud and Thibaud Flament, while Scotland centres Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones were also included.
Ireland won the fourth Grand Slam in their history on the final weekend after beating England in Dublin.
England forward Poppy Cleall and centre Amber Reed will be unavailable for Sunday’s Women’s Six Nations match against Italy after sustaining knee injuries against Scotland.
Both players started in England’s opening-round 58-7 thrashing of Scotland in Newcastle.
The Rugby Football Union said Cleall and Reed “are targeting a return for the latter rounds” of the tournament.
England’s centre options were already reduced, with Emily Scarratt injured.
In Scarratt’s absence, Reed initially took on goal-kicking duties on Saturday and Lagi Tuima took over when the inside centre was injured.
Tuima and Tatyana Heard, who usually play 13, are the existing choices for the Italy fixture in Northampton.
Uncapped Exeter centre Nancy McGillivray was pulled off early while playing for England Under-20s on Saturday, suggesting the 20-year-old could be included this weekend.
England seek a fifth successive Six Nations title and their final-round match against France at Twickenham on 29 April will likely be the tournament decider.
In other news, former rugby players diagnosed with brain injuries could get millions of pounds from the sport’s governing bodies to pay for their care.
More than 200 ex-players have accused rugby governing bodies of failing to protect them against brain injuries.
Legal experts said the claims against the organisations could exceed £300m.
World Rugby, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said they constantly strive to safeguard players.
The class action suit is being taken against all three governing bodies.
Former stars involved in the claim include former British and Irish Lion and Wales captain Ryan Jones, England international and World Cup winner Steve Thompson and former Wales international Alix Popham.
Mr Jones revealed last year that he had joined the legal action after being diagnosed with early onset dementia.–BBC.
Online Reporter