Shortlist revealed for England Men's Player of the Season - Tommy Freeman included

The leading stars from the Gallagher PREM and PWR recognised after standout campaigns across the domestic season. The prestigious Gallagher Player of the Season category features the likes of Tommy Freeman, Billy Searle, Ben Spencer and Tom Willis, following impressive seasons for their respective clubs.

Freeman has enjoyed another outstanding campaign for Northampton Saints, who top the table ahead of the play-offs. Ben Spencer has been instrumental in Bath campaign, as the blue, black and whites push for a successful title retention under Johann van Graan.

Tom Willis has continued to establish himself as one of the Premiership’s most dominant forwards, and will be sorely missed once he departs Saracens for France at the end of the season. While Billy Searle’s influence at Leicester Tigers has also earned recognition, as the fly half continues to push for a place in the stacked roster of England out-halves.

The Gallagher PREM Breakthrough Player of the Season shortlist then shines a light on some of the brightest young talents in English rugby. Saracens' resident dynamo Noah Caluori, Northampton Saints scrum half Archie McParland and Italian flyer Edoardo Todaro, along with Bath's break-out front row Kepu Tuipulotu have all nominated.

In the coaching categories, Bath's Johann van Graan, Northampton's Phil Dowson, Geoff Parling of Leicester and Exeter Chiefs main-stay Rob Baxter have all been shortlisted for Gallagher PREM Director of Rugby of the Season.

Elsewhere, the England Men’s Player of the Season nominees include Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Tommy Freeman and Joe Heyes, with Freeman up for two awards after a stunning individual season.

The women’s awards categories also feature some of the biggest names in the game, with Amy Cokayne, Zoe Harrison, Sadia Kabeya and Meg Jones nominated for England Women’s Player of the Season.

The Rugby Awards 2026, presented by Gallagher, will take place at Old Billingsgate in London on Wednesday, June 10, with the event set to be broadcast live on TNT Sports and HBO Max for the first time.