Guinness Men's Six Nations Player of The Championship

Antoine Dupont Player of the Championship image

The Guinness Six Nations Player of the Championship is one of rugby’s most prestigious individual accolades, and has been won by a host of the game’s greatest players.

Each year, a shortlist of players is chosen by an expert panel for the Guinness Player of the Championship award. This list then goes to a public vote, with the winning player announced in the week after Super Saturday.

Ireland have won the award most frequently, seven times in total, with the great Brian O’Driscoll (2006, 2007, 2009) claiming three. His former centre partner Gordon D’Arcy won the inaugural award in 2004. Along with O’Driscoll and D’Arcy, Ireland’s Tommy Bowe (2010), Paul O’Connell (2015) and Jacob Stockdale (2018) have also won the award.

France scrum-half Antoine Dupont (2020, 2022 and 2023) and Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg (2016 and 2017) are the only other players to have won it more than once.

Five Welshmen have won the accolade with Martyn Williams (2005), Shane Williams (2008), Dan Lydiate (2012), Leigh Halfpenny (2013) and Alun Wyn Jones (2019). England’s Mike Brown (2014) and Italy’s Andrea Masi (2011) have also had the honour of being named the Championship’s best player.

Hamish Watson became only the second ever Scot to win the award after a superb Championship in 2021 which saw him cement his place as one of the very best back-rows in world rugby.

Winning Players:

  • 2004: Gordon D'Arcy - Ireland

  • 2005: Martyn Wlliams - Wales

  • 2006: Brian O'Driscoll - Ireland

  • 2007: Brian O'Driscoll - Ireland

  • 2008: Shane Williams - Wales

  • 2009 Brian O'Driscoll - Ireland

  • 2010: Tommy Bowe - Ireland

  • 2011: Andrea Masi - Italy

  • 2012: Dan Lydiate - Wales

  • 2013: Leigh Halfpenny - Wales

  • 2014: Mike Brown - England

  • 2015: Paul O'Connell - Ireland

  • 2016: Stuart Hogg - Scotland

  • 2017: Stuart Hogg - Scotland

  • 2018: Jacob Stockdale - Ireland

  • 2019: Alun Wyn Jones - Wales

  • 2020: Antoine Dupont - France

  • 2021: Hamish Watson - Scotland

  • 2022: Antoine Dupont - France

  • 2023: Antoine Dupont - France