SÉRAPHINE OKEMBA IS THE BKT RISING PLAYER OF THE WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS
French player Séraphine Okemba, Olympic silver medalist in rugby sevens at Tokyo 2020, has been crowned as the first BKT Rising Player in the history of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
Born in Dreux, northern France, on December 3, 1995, Okemba plays for Lyon OU and can cover various positions, having played as a winger, center, and flanker. After an important career in rugby sevens - two Olympic participations with the French national team, in Paris 2024 and Tokyo 2020, where the Bleues won the silver medal - this year the former player of Stade Rennais, Stade Toulousain, Saracens, and Stade Français has also made her mark in rugby fifteens, emerging as one of the best players in the Women’s Six Nations.
The BKT Rising Player is the award created by BKT - leading company in the production of Off-Highway tires and Official Tire Partner of the Six Nations - which highlights the next generation of international rugby talents, inspiring emerging stars and fans worldwide. Both in the men's tournament, where Irish player Sam Prendergast won, and in the women's tournament, which crowned Séraphine Okemba.
“It is an honor to present this award to a player who has demonstrated embodying the values of rugby and BKT, as well as being one of the best young talents in the global sports scene. For the first time in its history, both Six Nations championships -men and women's- have an official award dedicated to emerging talents, an award that holds great significance for us at BKT as we strongly believe in the importance of nurturing passions and talent, starting with sports. Moreover, we believe that this specific BKT Rising Player award could contribute to the growth of women's sport, inspiring the future generations of women all over Europe and beyond. At BKT we look forward to seeing many more of them flourish in the upcoming editions.” – said Lucia Salmaso, Managing Director of BKT Europe.
In all its sponsorships, BKT carries out various fan engagement activities, aiming to make them feel at the center of the action, as happened in pubs and clubhouses in England, France, Wales, Ireland, Italy, and Scotland this winter, thanks to Playin’ Home, BKT's activity dedicated to fans for this edition of the Six Nations.
With the conclusion of the women's tournament, the 2025 Six Nations season has come to an end, but for rugby enthusiasts, the season is still long! Now the world of oval ball is ready to focus on the end of the season of an exciting BKT URC, where BKT, Title Sponsor of the championship, will be present with its Fan Games. See you in Limerick on May 9!