The Irish Times/Irish Sports Council Sportswoman Award for February: Sophie Spence (Rugby)

It has, to say the least, been an eventful start to the Six Nations campaign for Ireland, the team opening with a comprehensive 30-5 win away to Italy, before the lights went out on their efforts to beat France in Ashbourne. But then came that victory over world champions England, only the second time Ireland have ever beaten them, and the spring was well and truly back in their step.

Niamh Briggs was, once again, the match winner, her late penalty giving Ireland an 11-8 win, and when it came to choosing our Sportsman of the Month, the captain was on our very long shortlist, scrumhalf Larissa Muldoon another who caught the eye with her performance.

But in the end we opted for the tireless Sophie Spence, as Gavin Cummiskey of this parish put it: "She is the cornerstone of Ireland phase play now. It is the English-born lock's carrying that got Ireland over the gainline time and time again. It's her improved strength, leg drive and sheer guts that kept delivering."

It was Ireland's previous coach, Philip Doyle, who first spotted Spence at an Exiles training camp in London a few years back, capping her as soon as possible (in 2012) so England wouldn't snap her up. She's a native of South Shields in the north east of England who qualified to play for Ireland through her Lisburn-born mother Myrtle.

Spence's first sporting love was netball, which she played until she was 21, but then she decided to give rugby a go and she's never looked back.
And just five years after taking up the game, she was a member of Ireland's Grand Slam winning team. In the middle of it all, she moved to Dublin where her involvement in rugby has been all-consuming, when not playing with Old Belvedere and Leinster she was involved in community development work with Leinster, before taking up the position as Dublin City University's Rugby Development Officer last year.

And the 28-year-old is passionate about the future of the women's game in Ireland, convinced that there is enough raw talent out there, inspired by the success of the national team in recent years, to ensure a bright future. But only if appreciated, encouraged and funded. That's the challenge.

Another Six Nations title would provide further impetus, but with three wins out of three so far, it's for France to lose. Still, they have England to play in Twickenham, so a slip-up there could allow Spence and Co to prosper. First, they must beat Wales, also with two wins from three, on Sunday, before getting the better of Scotland in their final fixture, both games away.

If they fall short, it won't be for the lack of trying, not least from the indefatigable Spence.

Previous monthly winner (awards run from December 2014 to November 2015, inclusive).

December: Ann Marie McGlynn (Athletics). The Offaly woman captained the Irish senior women's team to an unlikely bronze medal at the European Cross-Country Championships in Bulgaria, combining with Fionnuala Britton, Sara Treacy and Michelle Finn to beat France by a point to a place on the podium.

January: Grلinne Dwyer (Basketball). For the second year running, Dwyer was the MVP in the National Cup final, this time driving Team Montenotte, Glanmire to success over Killester, top-scoring in the game with 20 points.