Aoife Wafer commits to Harlequins for another season after standout PWR campaign

Aoife Wafer has extended her contract with Harlequins, the Premiership Women’s Rugby club confirmed, keeping the Ireland No.8 in London beyond her debut season at the Stoop.

The 23-year-old joined Harlequins ahead of the current campaign and has made 10 appearances, scoring seven tries and winning 15 turnovers. Her form has carried over into the international arena, where her performances for Ireland in the 2025 Women’s Six Nations — she was Player of the Championship in 2024 — have earned her a second consecutive nomination for the award.

“It’s an incredible group to be a part of and I’m really excited to see what we can do next season,” Wafer said. “We have the potential to do something special and I’m excited to be involved in that with Quins. It’s a different style of rugby to what I’ve played before, but a really enjoyable style to learn. The PWR has made me a better player, and it’s allowed me to perform at a higher intensity.”

Wafer also credited the club’s supporters as a factor in her development. “That level of support from the fans is a level up from anything I’ve experienced with any other club sides in the past. It spurs you on that extra bit when the crowd start singing.”

Head coach Ross Chisholm welcomed the news, describing Wafer as a leader both on and off the pitch. “She is a real leader both on and off the pitch,” Chisholm said. “We’ve seen how much of an impact she has had on games this season and I believe that in our environment, she can take her game to another level again in the coming seasons.”

The re-signing provides a bright spot in what has been a difficult run of form for Harlequins. The club are currently four points outside the top four with two rounds of the regular season remaining, and have not won since Wafer’s hat-trick against Trailfinders Women in January. They close out their home schedule against Leicester Tigers at the Stoop this Saturday.