Tom Willis Crowned Premiership Player Of The Season As Rugby Awards 2026 Winners Revealed

Thursday, 11 June 2026 at 09:26

byTom Sansom

Tom Willis capped off a remarkable season by being named Gallagher Premiership Player of the Season as the stars of English rugby were celebrated at The Rugby Awards 2026.

Held at London's iconic Old Billingsgate and broadcast live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, the event brought together Premiership Rugby, Premiership Women's Rugby, the Rugby Players' Association and England Rugby to honour the standout performers from the 2025/26 campaign.

Willis' outstanding performances for Saracens saw him voted Gallagher Premiership Player of the Season by his fellow players, while teammate Noah Caluori completed a memorable evening for the North London club by claiming both the Breakthrough Player of the Season award and the Premiership's Top Try Scorer crown after crossing for 18 tries.

Northampton Saints also enjoyed a successful night, with Phil Dowson named Director of Rugby of the Season and Tom James picking up the Community Player of the Season award. Saints forward Josh Kemeny's stunning effort against Sale Sharks in Round 7 was voted Try of the Season, collecting an emphatic 67 per cent of the public vote.

The England awards saw Leicester Tigers prop Joe Heyes recognised as England Men's Player of the Season, while Saracens and Red Roses fly-half Zoe Harrison was named England Women's Player of the Season.

In Premiership Women's Rugby, Saracens scrum-half Olivia Apps was crowned Player of the Season, while Loughborough Lightning's Haineala Lutui collected the Breakthrough Player of the Season award. Trailfinders Women boss Barney Maddison was recognised as Director of Rugby of the Season after guiding the club to one of their strongest campaigns.

Full List Of Winners

Gallagher Premiership Awards

Player of the Season: Tom Willis (Saracens)

Breakthrough Player of the Season: Noah Caluori (Saracens)

Director of Rugby of the Season: Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)

Community Player of the Season: Tom James (Northampton Saints)

Try of the Season: Josh Kemeny (Northampton Saints) vs Sale Sharks

Top Try Scorer: Noah Caluori (Saracens) – 18 tries

Gallagher Premiership Team of the Season

Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Jamie Blamire (Leicester Tigers)
Thomas du Toit (Bath Rugby)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Andrea Zambonin (Exeter Chiefs)
Tom Hooper (Exeter Chiefs)
Fitz Harding (Bristol Bears)
Tom Willis (Saracens)
Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)
Billy Searle (Leicester Tigers)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
Benhard Janse van Rensburg (Bristol Bears)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)

England Rugby Awards

England Men's Player of the Season: Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)

England Women's Player of the Season: Zoe Harrison (Saracens)

RPA Awards

Personal Development Awards:

Kieran Verden & Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby)
Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs)
Natasha Hunt & Zoe Stratford (Gloucester-Hartpury)
Emeke Ilione (Leicester Tigers)

Blyth Spirit Award: Lewis Moody

Premiership Women's Rugby Awards

PWR Player of the Season: Olivia Apps (Saracens)

PWR Breakthrough Player of the Season: Haineala Lutui (Loughborough Lightning)

PWR Director of Rugby of the Season: Barney Maddison (Trailfinders Women)

PWR Top Try Scorers: May Campbell (Saracens), Rhona Lloyd (Sale Sharks), Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury) and Bo Westcombe-Evans (Loughborough Lightning) – 12 tries each