Outstanding France scrum-half Antoine Dupont has made more history, becoming just the second person to be named the Six Nations Player of the Championship on three occasions.

Dupont fought off competition from team-mates Thomas Ramos and Damian Penaud, as well as Ireland trio Caelan Doris, Hugo Keenan and Mack Hansen.

Esteemed company

The playmaker joins Brian O’Driscoll (2006, 2007 and 2009) as the only other player to take home the award on three occasions.

After also winning it in 2020 and 2022, the 26-year-old follows O’Driscoll and Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg (2016 and 2017) in claiming the title over successive years.

Stephen O’Kelly, global brand director at Diageo, commented: “Following an incredible Guinness Six Nations Championship, the team at Diageo would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Antoine Dupont, this year’s Guinness Six Nations Player of the Championship.

“Antoine was never far away from France’s best plays this season, keeping them in the battle for the title, and we hope he enjoys this richly deserved achievement and recognition.”

Over 138,000 votes were cast and in a tightly contested race Dupont received 26 per cent of them as he edged out Ramos, Penaud, Doris, Keenan and Hansen.

Ireland dominate Team of the Championship

The scrum-half also took his place in the Six Nations XV, which was once again voted for by the public, but it was Grand Slam champions Ireland who dominated the side.

Ramos misses out due to the fact that another full-back, Keenan, was also on the shortlist, with the Irishman getting the nod for the XV.

He is joined in the back three alongside Damian Penaud, who gets in ahead of Hansen, and Lowe as 10 players in total from Andy Farrell’s outfit are selected.

Scotland are also represented with Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones – given the nickname ‘Huwipulotu’ – combining at centre.

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Johnny Sexton partners Dupont at half-back with Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris an all-Irish loose trio.

The front-row is also dominated by Ireland as Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Finlay Bealham are selected, with Frenchman Thibaud Flament partnering James Ryan at lock.

Six Nations Team of the Championship: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter

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