Northampton Saints players Henry Pollock and Tommy Freeman both collected some individual accolades on Tuesday evening, as their performances this season were recognised at The Rugby Awards (presented by Gallagher).
For the first time in the history of English rugby, Premiership Rugby, the Rugby Players Association (RPA), Rugby Football Union (RFU), and Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) united to honour the superstars of the sport in one combined awards ceremony.
The ultimate breakthrough campaign has seen Pollock, 20, go from an Academy prospect to British & Irish Lion – and he was named the Premiership’s Breakthrough Player of the Season (presented by Defender).
The flanker has enjoyed a season for the ages with Saints, having played just 30 minutes in the Gallagher Premiership before this campaign, and pipped Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester Rugby), Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks), and Joseph Woodward (Leicester Tigers) to the award.
In the Gallagher Premiership, he only made his first start in October but has already become a key player for Phil Dowson’s side. His first try in the league came away to Sale at the end of March, a remarkable solo score where he skipped past two defenders, chipped over the top, and collected himself.
Now he is a full England international, played a leading role in Saints reaching the Investec Champions Cup Final, and will be the youngest player representing the British & Irish Lions in Australia this summer.
He said: “The last 12 months have accelerated at a rate that I probably wouldn’t have expected them to.
“If you had told me this time last year that I would be a British & Irish Lion, I probably would have slapped you on the back of your head.
“It’s been mad and I’m grateful, but also very focused on the next job.”
Henry Pollock
“I never get too caught up on what has happened and I’m always trying to focus on being better in training or better on the pitch, or on my rehab, anything that can give me that extra one percent.
“I’m still learning loads and I’m definitely not the finished article.
“It’s come quickly and I have to give it up to my teammates and the coaches for giving me the confidence to take the field at such a young age. That is what Northampton Saints are great for, they give young kids confidence and you see it in the way that we have such a large proportion of our team from the Academy. That is a credit to Phil (Dowson) and a credit to the coaches, the amazing set-up we have there which is unique.”
Meanwhile Freeman was named England Men's Player of the Season (presented by Advanta Wealth) following a stellar campaign while representing the Red Rose, and edged out nominees Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Maro Itoje (Saracens), and Will Stuart (Bath Rugby).
The versatile 24-year-old back was another Saint named within the British & Irish Lions’ touring party this summer, following a season which saw him score 21 tries in 28 appearances for Saints and England.
Freeman became the first Englishman in history to score a try in every round of the Guinness Six Nations, and that red-hot form continued in Black, Green and Gold as he crossed the whitewash ten times in his following five matches to help propel Saints into the Investec Champions Cup Final.
He said: “It feels amazing to win this award. Even to see the list of nominees alongside me, I grew up watching all those guys, so to be there alongside them and then win the award is really special.
“You’ve always just got to be hungry for the next challenge. The Lions is the pinnacle and that’s immediately ahead of me now, but every year you always want to get yourself in a better place, improve, and help the younger players around you.”
Tommy Freeman
“I’d like to think the best is still to come from me, whether that be on the wing, in the centres or at fullback. I want to keep getting better and better and I’m excited for what comes next.”
Elsewhere on the night, Gloucester scrum-half Tomos Williams was named Gallagher Player of the Season, while Bath’s Director of Rugby, Johann van Graan, claimed the Director of Rugby of the Season award (presented by London Pride).
The Rugby Awards 2024/25 – Winners
Gallagher Player of the Season:
Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby)
Breakthrough Player of the Season, presented by Defender:
Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints)
Director of Rugby of the Season, presented by London Pride:
Johann van Graan (Bath Rugby)
Community Player of the Season, presented by Funding Circle:
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Premiership Rugby Top Try Scorer, presented by Christopher Ward:
Ollie Hassell-Collins (Leicester Tigers) and Gabriel Ibitoye (Bristol Bears) – 13 tries each
England Men's Player of the Season, presented by Advanta Wealth:
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
England Women's Player of the Season, presented by LexisNexis Risk Solutions:
Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury)
PWR Player of the Season, presented by Clinique:
Meg Jones (Leicester Tigers)
PWR Breakthrough Player of the Season, presented by Defender:
Millie David (Bristol Bears)
PWR Director of Rugby of the Season, presented by Asahi:
Sean Lynn (Gloucester-Hartpury)
PWR Top Try Scorer, presented by Christopher Ward:
May Campbell (Saracens) and Millie David (Bristol Bears) - 16 tries
Vodafone Business RPA Gain Line Award:
Jake Woolmore (Bristol Bears), Harry Thacker (Bristol Bears), Josh Caulfield (Bristol Bears), Josh Bassett (Leicester Tigers), and Harry Glover (GB 7s)
The RPA Blyth Spirit Award:
Taylor Gough
