The nominees for the 2025 Rugby Awards, presented by Gallagher, have been announced with the inaugural awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, June 3.
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 Brewery in London.
Premiership Award Nominees
Springboks prop Thomas du Toit has continued his sterling form for Bath, building on his first season at the club, and has been shortlisted alongside teammate Finn Russell for the Gallagher Player of the Season.
England and Sale Sharks fly-half George Ford has also been nominated after being overlooked for the British and Irish Lions squad as has Saracens star Tom Willis.
The Gallagher Player of the Season and Breakthrough Player of the Season will be determined following a player vote.
The Breakthrough Player of the Season nominees include Lions bolter Henry Pollock who has shot to stardom with Northampton Saints. Props Afolabi Fasogbon and Asher Opoku-Fordjour have also been nominated, along with Leicester Tigers’ back Joseph Woodward.
The four nominees for the England Men’s Player of the Season have all been named in the British and Irish Lions squad, they are captain Maro Itoje, flanker Tom Curry, winger Tommy Freeman and tighthead prop Will Stuart.
After another title-winning Six Nations campaign, there are four strong candidates for the Red Roses player of the season. They are Zoe Aldcroft, Abby Dow, Meg Jones and Maud Muir.
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).
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Gallagher Player of the Season:
– 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 (Bristol Bears)
– Olly Hartley (Saracens)
– Lewis Ludlow (Gloucester Rugby)
– Will Muir (Bath Rugby)
The winner of the Community Player of the Season was voted by employees of Funding Circle.
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Premiership Rugby Top Try Scorer, presented by Christopher Ward: To be determined following the conclusion of Gallagher Premiership Rugby – Round 18.
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
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/springboks-star-and-bi-lions-snub-headline-premiership-rugby-awards-nominees
