Props dominate Gallagher Premiership men's award shortlist

Thomas du Toit is in contention to become only the second prop to be named Premiership Men’s Player of the Season after being shortlisted for the award alongside Bath teammate Finn Russell, Sale Sharks’ George Ford, Gloucester’s Tomos Williams and Saracens’ Tom Willis.

Capable of playing both sides of the scrum and a veritable try machine for a front-row forward, the Springbok World Cup winner has had an outstanding season. However, his four rivals all have equally good claims after being shortlisted by the panel of rugby media experts.

Russell has helped to steer Bath to the top of the Premiership with his kicking and handling skills, while fellow fly-half Ford has been brilliant for Sale, making his Lions omission even more puzzling.

Scrum-half Williams has been a key component in Gloucester’s transformation as an attacking force and is one of only two Welshmen in Andy Farrell’s Lions squad, while Tom Willis dominates the stats charts in several categories after a stellar campaign.

As humble heads down and push merchants, props don’t normally receive too many accolades – not one has won the World Rugby Player of the Year award, for example. And du Toit would become the first prop in 18 years, since Martin Castrogiovanni won it in 2007, if he gets the nod.

Back-row players have won more awards than any other position (seven) since they were introduced two decades ago, with Chris Robshaw the only multiple winner (2009 and 2012). Ford, however, could join him on two if he’s successful this time around, as the 99-cap England international won it back in 2015 when he was pulling the strings for Bath.

Meanwhile, there’s a 50 per cent chance of a prop winning the Breakthrough Player of the Season award, as England squad members Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester) and Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks) have both made the shortlist.

However, that pair will do well to finish ahead of Northampton’s 20-year-old sensation Henry Pollock, whose performances have earned him a place on the place to Australia with the Lions this summer. Leicester’s Joseph Woodward makes up the quartet of young players to have caught the eye the most.

Premiership Men’s Award Winner shortlists:

Gallagher Player of the Season:
Thomas du Toit (Bath)
George Ford (Sale Sharks)
Finn Russell (Bath)
Tomos Williams (Gloucester)
Tom Willis (Saracens)

Breakthrough Player of the Season, presented by Defender:
Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester)
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)
Johann van Graan (Bath)

Community Player of the Season, presented by Funding Circle:
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Olly Hartley (Saracens)
Lewis Ludlow (Gloucester)
Will Muir (Bath)

Past Premiership Player of the Season winners:

2023-24: Henry Slade (Exeter)
2022-23: Ollie Lawrence (Bath)
2021-22: Ben Earl (Saracens)
2020-21: Sam Simmonds (Exeter)
2019-20: Jack Willis (Wasps)
2018-19: Danny Cipriani (Gloucester)
2017-18: Vereniki Goneva (Newcastle)
2016-17: Jimmy Gopperth (Wasps)
2015-16: Alex Goode (Saracens)
2014-15: George Ford (Bath)
2013-14: Mike Brown (Harlequins)
2012-13: Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
2011-12: Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
2010-11: Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
2009-10: Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
2008-09: Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
2007-08: James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester)
2006-07: Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester Tigers)
2005-06: Mike Catt (London Irish)
2004-05: Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers)