Gallagher Premiership Rugby News Roundup: Courtney Lawes and Northampton Saints Dominate Nominations
In a testament to their standout performances throughout the season, Northampton Saints have secured multiple nominations for the prestigious Gallagher Premiership Rugby Awards. Leading the charge is the departing club legend, Courtney Lawes, who has been shortlisted for the Premiership Player of the Season award.
Joining Lawes on the coveted shortlist are Bath’s Finn Russell, as well as fellow England internationals Henry Slade and Fin Smith, the latter a Northampton teammate of Lawes. The inclusion of two Northampton players on the list reflects the club’s impressive run at the top of the Premiership table heading into the playoffs.
Northampton’s head coach, Phil Dowson, has also been nominated for the Director of Rugby of the Season accolade, where he will go up against the likes of Bath’s Johann van Graan, Sale Sharks’ Alex Sanderson, and Saracens’ Mark McCall.
In the Breakthrough Player of the Season category, Newcastle Falcons’ Guy Pepper, Exeter Chiefs’ Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, and the Harlequins duo of Fin Baxter and Chandler Cunningham-South have all received nominations. Feyi-Waboso and Cunningham-South’s inclusions come on the back of their recent England call-ups during the Guinness Six Nations.
“As Lawes prepares to bring the curtain down on his illustrious Northampton career, joining Brive at the end of the season, his impact on the Saints’ campaign has been undeniable. Despite retiring from international duty after the World Cup, the experienced flanker has been a pivotal figure in Northampton’s table-topping run and their journey to the Investec Champions Cup semi-finals.”
Similarly, Slade’s nomination caps a season where the England center worked his way back into Steve Borthwick’s national squad after missing out on selection for the 2023 World Cup.
The Gallagher Premiership Rugby Awards ceremony is set to take place in London on Wednesday, where these talented players and coaches will be recognized for their outstanding contributions to the game.
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