With the chapter firmly closed on 2022, it's time to consider who has been the best Wales Women rugby player in a truly momentous year.
Wales Women took their first steps into professionalism with 12 full-time contracts awarded in January 2022 followed by a number of semi-pro deals. Added preparation time aided Wales finishing third in the standalone TikTok Women's Six Nations behind England and France, which marked their best tournament finish since 2009.
Then, virtually the whole 30-plus squad went pro in July ahead of the World Cup, where Ioan Cunningham's comeback queens were knocked out at the quarter-finals stage by eventual winners Black Ferns.
Along the way, some old heads and new faces have shone - now it's time for you to vote for your Wales Women player of 2022 below, with the results being revealed later in January.
The contenders include physical, ball-carrying centre Hannah Jones, who is one of the first names on the team sheet and is an assured leader, as evidenced by her matchday captaincy during the Rugby World Cup. Lowri Norkett has enjoyed a memorable 2022 in which she made her Wales rugby union bow and headed to a World Cup just months later, establishing herself as a skilful, athletic option on the wing. Fly-half Elinor Snowsill is by far Wales' most-improved player of the year, with her kicking coming to the fore in the latter months of the year. Completing the backs contingent are scrum-half rivals Ffion Lewis and Keira Bevan, who have both proven to be match-changing figures regardless of who is starting or on the bench.
As for the forwards, Cara Hope has been consistent and a safe pair of hands at prop, while the same can be said of former Wales captain and hooker Carys Phillips. Both Gwen Crabb and Natalia John have been key cogs at second-row, while Alisha Butchers was the epitome of everything good about this Wales team — relentless, physical and skilful — particularly during the Six Nations with that memorable try-securing break against Scotland. Unfortunately, her World Cup was limited to one game due to an ACL injury from which she is now recovering.
Finally, flanker Alex Callender, known as The Terrier, and formidable No. 8 Sioned Harries have become the bedrock of the back-row - no mean feat given how much competition there is.
You can also cast your vote in our survey here.
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