Northampton Saints’ Phil Dowson collected the Gallagher PREM Director of Rugby award at Wednesday evening’s Rugby Awards, with Tom James and Josh Kemeny also picking up individual accolades.
For the second season running, PREM Rugby, the Rugby Players Association (RPA), Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) and Rugby Football Union (RFU) have joined forces to celebrate the best of English Rugby at The Rugby Awards, presented by Gallagher, and it was Dowson who scooped up one of the biggest prizes of the evening as DOR of the season.
Saints remained undefeated at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens after 18 rounds of regular Gallagher PREM season with Dowson’s men in Black, Green and Gold securing top spot in the league with one round left to play, finishing the regular season on 74 points and a home play-off against Leicester Tigers to come this Friday night.
On the award, he said: “It’s a huge privilege. There are three other guys nominated here, and everyone who does the job knows how much work goes on.
“It’s a reflection of how much hard work the players and associated staff have put in this season and a huge privilege on behalf of them.”
Elsewhere on the night, Kemeny also won the try-of-the-season prize for his incredible solo-score at cinch Stadium against Sale Sharks in the Round 7 47-21 victory.
The Australian back-rower’s try was one of pure magic with some sumptuous stepping and agility to beat multiple defenders and go over to a rapturous noise from the cinch Stadium faithful.
Finishing off Saints’ individual accolades for the evening was James, who received the Community Player of the Season, recognising his contributions to the local community through his role as a Programme Ambassador for Northampton Saints Foundation.
Actively involved in the Saints Inside programme, James made regular visits to HMP Highpoint to share his knowledge of training, mindset and professionalism to inspire participants – helping them build confidence, gain qualifications and prepare for life beyond custody.
Lastly, Tommy Freeman was also named in the Gallagher PREM Team of the season, selected by the TNT Sports talent team.
Freeman has been in phenomenal form for the men in Black, Green and Gold this season off the back of his first British and Irish Lions Tour last summer. He’s scored 18 tries in 17 appearances in the 25/26 season, with his try in the Round 17 36-32 victory against Gloucester bringing him level with the most tries scored by a single player at the club in a single season.
Elsewhere on the night, Loughborough Lightning also picked up two awards, with Haineala Lutui winning PWR Breakthrough Player of the Season, and Bo Westcombe-Evans was also joint PWR Top Try scorer, with Sadia Kabeya also named in the Team of the Season.
The Rugby Awards 2025/26 Winners
Gallagher Player of the Season:
Tom Willis (Saracens)
Gallagher PREM Breakthrough Player of the Season, presented by Defender:
Noah Caluori (Saracens)
The winners of the Gallagher Player of the Season and Gallagher PREM Breakthrough Player of the Season, presented by Defender, were determined by a vote of PREM Rugby players.
Gallagher PREM Director of Rugby of the Season, presented by London Pride:
Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)
The winner of Director of Rugby of the Season was chosen by a panel consisting of Christian Day (RPA), Jill Douglas (ITV, BBC), Ali Eykyn (TNT Sports), Hugh Godwin (The i Paper), Chris Jones (BBC), Alex Lowe (The Times), Ugo Monye (BBC, TNT Sports), Nick Mullins (TNT Sports), Charles Richardson (Telegraph), and Claire Thomas (BBC, TNT Sports).
Gallagher PREM Community Player of the Season, presented by Funding Circle:
Tom James (Northampton Saints)
The winner of the Community Player of the Season was voted for by the employees of Funding Circle.
Gallagher PREM Try of the Season, presented by TNT Sports:
Josh Kemeny (Northampton Saints) vs Sale Sharks in Round 7
The winner was determined by a public vote, with Kemeny securing 67% of the vote.
Gallagher PREM Top Try Scorer, presented by Christopher Ward:
Noah Caluori (Saracens) – 18 tries
Gallagher PREM Team of the Season:
15 Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
14 Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg (Bristol Bears)
11 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
10 Billy Searle (Leicester Tigers)
9 Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)
1 Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
2 Jamie Blamire (Leicester Tigers)
3 Thomas du Toit (Bath Rugby)
4 Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
5 Andrea Zambonin (Exeter Chiefs)
6 Tom Hooper (Exeter Chiefs)
7 Fitz Harding (Bristol Bears)
8 Tom Willis (Saracens)
The Team was selected by TNT Sports.
England Men’s Player of the Season, presented by British Airways:
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
England Women's Player of the Season, presented by LexisNexis Risk Solutions:
Zoe Harrison (Saracens)
The RPA Personal Development Awards:
Kieran Verden & Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby)
Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs)
Natasha Hunt & Zoe Stratford (Gloucester-Hartpury)
Emeke Ilione (Leicester Tigers)
The RPA Blyth Spirit Award:
Lewis Moody
PWR Player of the Season, presented by Canterbury:
Olivia Apps (Saracens)
PWR Breakthrough Player of the Season, presented by The British Army:
Haineala Lutui (Loughborough Lightning)
PWR Director of Rugby of the Season, presented by Gallagher:
Barney Maddison (Trailfinders Women)
PWR Top Try Scorer, presented by eToro:
May Campbell (Saracens), Rhona Lloyd (Sale Sharks), Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury) & Bo Westcombe-Evans (Loughborough Lightning) – 12 tries
PWR Team of the Season:
15 Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury)
14 Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury)
13 Claudia Peña (Harlequins)
12 Meg Jones (Trailfinders Women)
11 Millie David (Bristol Bears)
10 Zoe Harrison (Saracens)
9 Olivia Apps (Saracens)
1 Hope Rogers (Exeter Chiefs)
2 May Campbell (Saracens)
3 Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury)
4 Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury)
5 Alana Borland (Trailfinders Women)
6 Rachel Malcolm (Trailfinders Women)
7 Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning)
8 Aoife Wafer (Harlequins)