Rory Best Backed For SPOTY Ahead Of Six Nations Kick-Off

Ireland Rugby Union captain Rory Best has been backed into second favourite to pick up the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award ahead of this weekend’s Six Nations kick-off.

The Ulster star is set to lead the Irish side into the tournament as hot 8/11 favourites as they bid to defend their title and complete the Grand Slam for a second consecutive year.

Best saw his odds cut into 9/1 from 10/1 this week for the Sports Personality gong, making him second favourite ahead of the likes of Lewis Hamilton (12/1) and compatriot Rory McIlroy (20/1).

Jacob Stockdale is the 7/2 favourite to finish the Six Nations campaign as the top tryscorer and is a 20/1 shot from 25/1 this week for the award when it is handed out at the end of the year.

There hasn’t been a Rugby Union winner of the coveted trophy since Jonny Wilkinson in 2003,

…when he hit the winning drop goal that handed England the World Cup.

Captain Owen Farrell is the most likely English player at 12/1 to follow in Wilkinson’s footsteps by scooping the SPOTY award, but it’s Ireland who are 7/2 second favourites behind the All Blacks to win this year’s World Cup which kicks off in Japan in September.

Get the latest BBC Sports Personality Of The Year odds here.