A four player shortlist has been announced for the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership Player of the Season award, with England and Saracens Captain Owen Farrell amongst the nominations. Farrell is joined by Bath and England star Ollie Lawrence, as well as Rob du Preez of Sale Sharks and Leicester Tigers’ Jasper Wiese.
Farrell led Saracens to a top of the table finish, comfortably cruising to 1st place at the end of the campaign. Sarries finish the season nine points clear of second placed Sale Sharks, with the two teams making the play-offs with Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints.
Owen Farrell finished third in the overall points tally this season, with 129 points in eleven games for Saracens this season. The fly half had to factor in England commitments to his overall season, but provided a leadership presence which saw the Men in Black go unbeaten at home for their entire 2022/23 campaign. Farrell provided seven try-assists for Saracens throughout the Premiership season, and has once again led his club to a shot at glory in the Premiership play-offs.
Farrell’s England teammate Ollie Lawrence has had a turbulent 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership season, yet defied the odds to finish within the shortlisted stars. Lawrence began the campaign as a contracted Worecter Warriors player, yet when his boyhood club was financially dissloved last Autumn, Lawrence had to act fast to keep his head above the water.
The centre found a new home at Bath, and went from strength to strength, before consistent and impressive performances soon established him within Steve Borthwick’s England side. Lawrence has five tries this season, and is amongst the top line-breakers. Lawrence has made 16-clean breaks, and has beaten 52 defenders this season.
Jasper Wiese has been a powerhouse in the Leicester pack, with the back-rower shining in both attack and defence for the Tigers all season. Leading the way for carries in the opening six rounds, the South African coupled this with fearless tackling, seeing him in and around the top tacklers for each match he played in.
Wiese’ fellow countryman Rob du Preez makes up the final four. The versatile back has had the ability to lead from the front, regardless of wearing the 10 or 12 jersey for Sharks this season. He has been instrumental in Sale’s push for the play-offs, and his 174 points certainly elevated Sale into their first top-two finish since 2006.
The Premiership Rugby Awards will take place on Wednesday May 10th, and will also give out additional awards throughout the evening.
Breakthrough Player of the Season shortlist:
Seb Atkinson – Gloucester Rugby
Tom Pearson – London Irish
Fin Smith – Northampton Saints
Gus Warr – Sale Sharks
Director of Rugby of the Season shortlist:
Phil Dowson – Northampton Saints
Mark McCall – Saracens
Alex Sanderson – Sale Sharks
Richard Wigglesworth – Leicester Tigers
Community Player of the Season shortlist:
Will Muir – Bath Rugby
Joe Joyce – Bristol Bears
Hugh O’Sullivan – London Irish
Sean Maitland – Saracens
The shortlist and winner was voted for by a panel of media professionals. (As reported by Premiership Rugby)
The judges were: Ali Eykyn (BT Sport), Jill Douglas (ITV/BT Sport), Craig Swayne (The Good, The Bad & The Rugby), Tom Hamilton (ESPN), Hugh Godwin (i), Alex Lowe (The Times), Chris Jones (BBC 5 Live).