Shortlist revealed for The Rugby Awards 2025 - Henry Pollock nominated for 'Breakthrough Player'

Wednesday, 21 May 2025 at 10:44

byTom Sansom

For the first time, Premiership Rugby, the Rugby Players Association (RPA), Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) and Rugby Football Union (RFU) have joined forces to celebrate the best of English Rugby at The Rugby Awards, presented by Gallagher.

The inaugural awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, June 3 at The Brewery in London.

The shortlists for the Gallagher Premiership Rugby awards were chosen by a panel consisting of Rachael Burford (RPA), Christian Day (RPA), Jill Douglas (ITV, BBC), Ali Eykyn (TNT Sports), Hugh Godwin (i), Chris Jones (BBC), Alex Lowe (The Times), Gavin Mairs (Telegraph), Ugo Monye (BBC, TNT Sports), Nick Mullins (TNT Sports) and Claire Thomas (BBC, TNT Sports).

Ugo Monye during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Bath Rugby and Leicester Tigers at the Recreation Ground on 18 April. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

The winners of the Gallagher Player of the Season and Breakthrough Player of the Season, presented by Defender, will be determined following a player vote.

Gallagher Player of the Season:

Finn Russell of Bath Rugby during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Gloucester Rugby and Bath Rugby at Kingsholm Stadium on 10 November 2023 in Gloucester, England. (Photo by Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)

· Thomas du Toit (Bath Rugby)

· George Ford (Sale Sharks)

· Finn Russell (Bath Rugby)

· Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby)

· Tom Willis (Saracens)

Breakthrough Player of the Season, presented by Defender:

· Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester Rugby)

· Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks)

· Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints)

· Joseph Woodward (Leicester Tigers)

Director of Rugby of the Season, presented by London Pride:

· Michael Cheika (Leicester Tigers)

· Alex Sanderson (Sale Sharks)

· George Skivington (Gloucester Rugby)

· Johann van Graan (Bath Rugby)

Community Player of the Season, presented by Funding Circle:

Ellis Genge of Bristol Bears during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Leicester Tigers and Bristol Bears at Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium, Leicester on 27 April 2024. Photo: James Whitehead/PPAUK

· Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)

· Olly Hartley (Saracens)

· Lewis Ludlow (Gloucester Rugby)

· Will Muir (Bath Rugby)

The winner of the the Community Player of the Season was voted by employees of Funding Circle.

Premiership Rugby Top Try Scorer, presented by Christopher Ward:

To be determined following the conclusion of Gallagher Premiership Rugby – Round 18.

Other awards to be presented at The Rugby Awards, presented by Gallagher:

England Men's Player of the Season, presented by Avanta Wealth:

· Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)

· Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)

· Maro Itoje (Saracens)

· Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)

England Women's Player of the Season, presented by LexisNexis Risk Solutions:

· Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury)

· Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women)

· Meg Jones (Leicester Tigers Women)

· Maud Muir (Gloucester Hartpury)

Vodafone Business RPA Gainline Award:

· Josh Bassett (Leicester Tigers)

· Josh Caulfield (Bristol Bears)

· Harry Glover (Great Britain 7s)

· Harry Thacker & Jake Woolmore (Bristol Bears)

All recipients will be acknowledged on the night.

The RPA Blyth Spirit Award:

The recipient will be revealed on June 3.

PWR Player of the Season, presented by Clinique:

· Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears Women)

· Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins Women)

· Meg Jones (Leicester Tigers Women)

· Hope Rogers (Exeter Chiefs Women)

· Emma Sing (Gloucester Hartpury)

PWR Breakthrough Player of the Season, presented by Defender:

· Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning)

· Millie David (Bristol Bears Women)

· Clàudia Peña (Harlequins Women)

· Niamh Swailes (Sale Sharks Women)

PWR Director of Rugby of the Season, presented by Asahi:

· Ross Chisholm (Harlequins Women)

· Sean Lynn (Gloucester Hartpury)

· Nathan Smith (Loughborough Lightning)

· Dave Ward (Bristol Bears Women)

PWR Top Try Scorer, presented by Christopher Ward:

· May Campbell (Saracens Women) - 16

· Millie David (Bristol Bears Women) – 16