2018 Six Nations – Jacob Stockdale wins Player of the Tournament Life keeps throwing up nice surprises for Jacob Stockdale, the 21-year-old Ireland wing who can’t stop scoring tries. Uncapped a year ago, he has now scored 11 tries in nine Tests and the record seven he got in the recent NatWest 6 Nations have seen him crowned as the 2018 Player of the Tournament. Stockdale, whose seven tries eclipsed the six tries set by Chris Ashton, Will Greenwood and Shane Williams in previous championships, secured 32% of rugby fans’ votes – a higher percentage than Scotland’s Stuart Hogg achieved in winning the accolade in 2016 and 2017. Grand Slam winners Ireland occupied the first four places in the vote, as Conor Murray (18.2%), Johnny Sexton (18%) and Keith Earls (14.5%) were next on the list. Italy full-back Matteo Minozzi earned a creditable 13.2% for the wooden spoonists and France captain Guilhem Guirado completed the line-up with 4.1%. Stockdale said: “It’s been a truly memorable few weeks, making my first NatWest 6 Nations appearance, winning the championship and then going on to complete the Grand Slam against England. Breaking the try-scoring record was the cherry on top! “It’s an absolute honour to win the NatWest Player of the Championship, especially when you look at the amazing calibre of those shortlisted. Thank you to everyone who voted and for all the fans who gave us so much support throughout the championship.” Rugby World interviewed Stockdale earlier in the season, so to find out a little more about the young Ulsterman whose physicality and finishing ability is giving Ireland a new dimension, read the article below, which is in Stockdale’s own words… Everyone thinks I was born in Lisburn as I went to school there. But I was born in a wee town called Newtonstewart. My dad (Graham) was a minister so we moved about a bit when I was younger. Dad became a chaplain and works part-time in a prison and part-time in a hospice. My mum (Janine) was a midwife. I was destined to play rugby. Dad and granddad played all the way through school and then club rugby. I was four when I first got involved, with Ballynahinch mini rugby, and I played there until I went to secondary school (Wallace HS). I loved it and have done ever since. My first memory of Ulster rugby was when Dad took me to a game at Munster. We were in the car so long I thought we were going to Wales. I remember not being able to distinguish between the Munster and the Ulster chants. I was singing along with all the Munster fans! Jonah Lomu was the guy everybody wanted to be. Jonah was a freak and my favourite player growing up. From an Ulster perspective I remember David Humphreys, and Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble as well – those were two guys who everybody at school looked up to it. It’s quite surreal training and playing alongside them … Continue reading 2018 Six Nations – Jacob Stockdale wins Player of the Tournament