Saracen Earl claims top player honour

AFTER a stellar campaign in the back row for Saracens, flanker Ben Earl was awarded Player of the Season at the Premiership 2021-22 Rugby Awards.

Earl, who spent last season on loan at Bristol Bears, pipped Harlequins duo Danny Care and André Esterhuizen to the award as well as Leicester Tigers‘ pair George Ford and Julián Montoya.

The 24-year-old has played 29 times so far this season, scoring 10 tries.

Leicester Tigers topped the table at the end of the regular season, losing just four games and finishing the campaign unbeaten at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

Unsurprisingly, the mastermind of this, Steve Borthwick, was named Director of Rugby of the Season.

Borthwick won the award ahead of outgoing Northampton Saints Director of Rugby Chris Boyd, Gloucester‘s George Skivington, Saracens’ Mark McCall and Harlequins’ Tabai Matson.

London Irish‘s Henry Arundell picked up the Discovery of the Season award as the lightning quick full-back caught the eye with some scintillating length-of-the-field and chip-and-chase scores.

Arundell, who signed a new ‘long-term’ deal with Irish this week, pipped Leicester’s Ollie Chessum and Tommy Reffell, Northampton’s Tommy Freeman, and Harlequins’ Hugh Tizard to the award.

The Community Player of the Season was awarded to Worcester Warriors‘ Justin Clegg for his sterling efforts in the community.

Clegg has supported young and old in the Worcester community, joining in with the Warriors’ Community Foundation’s Inclusive rugby sessions on Monday mornings whenever training allows, as well as being a familiar face at the Dementia Café.

Recognised: Ben Earl

The Golden Boot was awarded to top points scorer, George Ford, of Leicester Tigers. He kicked 38 penalties, 38 conversions and one drop goal to take his tally to 193 – eight ahead of London Irish’s Paddy Jackson.

Max Malins secured the top try-scorer award with 16 tries, with his try on the last day of the season in the 54-7 defeat to Gloucester crucial as he went one clear of Newcastle Falcons hooker George McGuigan.

Louis Rees-Zammit won the Try of the Season for the winger’s effort against Newcastle in Round 14.