ALISON MILLER HAS been named the Sky Sports sportswomen of the month for March after winning the public vote by a landslide margin.
The Connacht wing was integral as Ireland secured the Six Nations title last month, scoring a hattrick in the final-day 73-3 hammering of Scotland.
Miller also scored a try in the vital away win against Wales, and has been a hugely consistent performer and try-scorer in Ireland colours in recent seasons.
The Portlaoise wing was a dominant winner of Sky’s public vote for March, picking up no less than 82% of the vote. Second-placed Lianne Sanderson, a professional footballer with England and Arsenal, was some distance behind with 13%.
Miller and her Ireland teammates now face the concerning prospect of not playing a competitive international rugby Test until next year, such is the scarcity of such fixtures in women’s rugby.
Developing a series of summer or November Tests is surely the next step for a sport that continues to grow. Miller, as underlined by her landslide win, is among the stars of Irish women’s rugby and requires more regular games to show off her ability.
Utterly deserved. Miller is a classy, strong, supremely balanced elusive runner. One of those who, as soon as she receives the ball, sends a frisson through those watching, as she just makes things happen. She Spence and Briggs were all brilliant against Scotland and throughout the 6 Nations.
Brilliant!!! Well done Ali, well deserved;)
But Johnson Thompson nearly broke the pentathlon world record
Nearly never won a race…… Almost did, Just About came third…..
I’ll get my coat.
Actually, nearly breaking the WR meant she won the “race” quite easily
Well you should have pushed people to vote for her then. It was a public vote and the women’s rugby supporters got behind Ali in numbers. Given the difference in population the British nominees shouldn’t have been so far behind her if their supporters had been as diligent.
She didn’t win the Race for Sportswoman of the Month, so…….
A minority sport rugby who cares.
Not to diminish Miller’s performance: she did great, and congrats to her, but voters clearly got carried away after her flurry of tries against Scotland. Meanwhile, players like Spence, Murphy and most of all Briggs were far more instrumental in Ireland’s Six Nations title. All the same, I am delighted every time Irish rugby can be in the spotlight and I hope this contributes to making women’s rugby even more popular.