Phil Dowson has been named on the four-man shortlist for Premiership Rugby’s Director of Rugby of the Season award, presented by London Pride.
The Northampton Saints Director of Rugby guided the Club into the league’s play-offs in his first full season at the helm, with the men in Black, Green and Gold now hoping to go even further than last year’s semi-final appearance.
Saracens’ Mark McCall, Sale Sharks’ Alex Sanderson, and Leicester Tigers’ Richard Wigglesworth complete the shortlist, with the winner announced next Wednesday evening at the Premiership Rugby awards evening.
Renowned journalist and BT Sport commentator Alastair Eykyn, who was on the seven-person judging panel, said: “Whilst there are phenomenal coaches doing terrific jobs throughout the Gallagher Premiership this season, it was hard to look past the Directors of Rugby from the sides who finished in the elusive top four positions and now take their sides into the all-important semi-finals.
“Mark, Alex and Phil have been exceptional leading their sides throughout the 2022/23 campaign and Richard of course has done wonders at Tigers since retiring as a player and taking the helm from now England Head Coach Steve Borthwick. The four of them are incredibly deserving of their nominations for this award.”
The judges were: Ali Eykyn (BT Sport), Sonja McLaughlan (BBC/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).
In the next few days, Premiership Rugby will also announce the shortlists for:
- Breakthrough Player of the Season, presented by Defender
- BT Sport Dream Team
- Try of the Season, presented by The Famous Grouse
- Premiership Rugby Top Try Scorer of the Season
- Premiership Rugby Top Points Scorer of the Season
- Gallagher Player of the Season
