Tom Willis wins Gallagher Premiership Player of the Season

Saracens number eight Tom Willis was named the Gallagher Premiership Player of the Season at The Rugby Awards 2026, held in London on Wednesday, June 10. The departing forward, who will join French club Bordeaux-Bègles this summer, was honored by his fellow players after a standout individual campaign.

Willis secured the league's top individual prize ahead of a shortlist that included Bath scrum-half Ben Spencer, Northampton Saints back Tommy Freeman, and Leicester Tigers fly-half Billy Searle. Despite Saracens failing to qualify for the Premiership playoffs, Willis led the competition in several statistical categories, including carries, offloads, and defenders beaten. He described the award as meaning a massive amount and praised Saracens for their support over the past three years.

His clubmate, 19-year-old back Noah Caluori, completed a Saracens double by winning the Gallagher Premiership Breakthrough Player of the Season award. Caluori, who also finished as the league's top try-scorer with 18 tries, edged out Bath's Kepu Tuipulotu, Northampton's Archie McParland, and Edoardo Todaro. Caluori said fulfilling his childhood dream of playing alongside and against legends of the...