Lions duo Russell & Williams among player of year nominees

Finn Russell and Tomos Williams from the British and Irish Lions squad have received nominations for the Premiership Rugby player of the year award.

George Ford, Sale and England playmaker Thomas du Toit, Bath prop Thomas du Toit, and Saracens back-rower Tom Willis add to the shortlist for the Bath and Scotland fly-half and Gloucester and Wales scrum-half.

Johann van Graan (Bath), Michael Cheika (Leicester), Alex Sanderson (Sale), and Gloucestershire’s George Skivington are among the top five league teams that have been nominated for director of rugby of the season.

Henry Pollock, a Northampton flanker who has won his first England cap and was named in the Lions’ team for their summer tour of Australia, is one of the nominees for the breakthrough player of the year award.

Gloucester center Afolabi Fasogbon, Sale center Asher Opoku-Fordjour, and Leicester center Joseph Woodward join him.

On June 3rd, the Rugby Awards in London will announce the winners.

Meg Jones, the back of England and Tigers of Leicester, is in the top two spots.

The 28-year-old has been shortlisted for England women’s player of the year and the Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) championship.

Zoe Aldcroft, the Red Roses’ captain, Abby Dow, and Maud Muir, the national team’s winger, are also on her shortlist.

England team-mates Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins), (Gloucester Hartpury) Emma Sing, and (Bristol Bears) Sarah Bern, along with Exeter Chiefs United States international Hope Rogers, are the other winners for the PWR prize.

The England men’s team player of the year will be won by captain Maro Itoje, winger Tommy Freeman, back-rower Tom Curry, and prop Will Stuart.

After guiding Gloucester Hartpury to a third-straight championship, Wales women’s coach Sean Lynn has been chosen for the PWR director of rugby of the year award.

Player of the year in the Premiership

Thomas du Toit (Bath)

Sale Sharks’ George Ford

Finn Russell (Bath)

Tomos Williams (Gloucester)

Tom Willis (Saracens)

Player of the year with the most impact

Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester)

Asher Opoku-Fourjour (Sale Sharks)

Northampton Saints’ Henry Pollock

Joseph Woodward (Tigers of Leicester)

The season’s rugby director

The Leopards’ Michael Cheika

Alex Sanderson (Sale Sharks)

Gloucestershire’s George Skivington

Johann van Graan (Bath)

Player of the season in the community

The Bristol Bears’ Ellis Genge

Olly Hartley (Saracens)

Lewis Ludlow (Gloucester)

Will Muir (Bath)

England men’s football player of the year

Sale Sharks’ Tom Curry

Northampton Saints’ Tommy Freeman

Maro Itoje (Saracens)

Will Stuart (Bath)

Women’s Player of the Year in England

(Gloucester Hartpury) Zoe Aldcroft

Abby Dow of “Trailfinders”

Tigers of Leicester, Meg Jones

(Gloucester Hartpury) Maud Muir

Women’s Rugby Premiership player of the year

(Bristol Bears) Sarah Bern

Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins)

Tigers of Leicester, Meg Jones)

Hope Rogers (Exeter Chiefs)

(Gloucester Hartpury) Emma Sing

The season’s top player was the women’s rugby team from the Premiership.

Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning)

(Bristol Bears) Millie David

Claudia Pena (Harlequins)

Sale Sharks or Niamh Swailes

Rugby Director of the Year for Premiership Women’s Teams

Ross Chisholm (Harlequins)

Sean Lynn (Gloucester Hartpury)

(Loughborough Lightning) Nathan Smith

(Bristol Bears) Dave Ward

Top try scorer in Premiership Women’s Rugby

May 16 (Saracens) Campbell