Rugby Awards 2024/25: Tomos Williams praises 'class' Gloucester and Henry Pollock reflects on 'mad' year after scooping prizes
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Published 04/06/2025 at 10:22 GMT+1
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With the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership season approaching its climax, the standout individuals of the year in the men's and women's game were celebrated at the Rugby Awards. Tomos Williams, Henry Pollock and Tommy Freeman were among the winners, with Northampton star Pollock admitting his meteoric rise has even taken him by surprise. Meg Jones was crowned PWR Player of the Season.
Highlights: Gloucester ease past Northampton but narrowly miss out on play-offs
Video credit: TNT Sports
Tomos Williams, Meg Jones and Henry Pollock were among the winners at the Rugby Awards as the cream of English domestic rugby were celebrated on Tuesday.
The Gallagher Premiership season is approaching its climax with the upcoming semi-finals, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Bath host Bristol Bears at the Rec on Friday night before Leicester Tigers take on Sale Sharks the following afternoon.
Both games are live on TNT Sports, with the winners meeting in the Twickenham final on Saturday, June 14.
Before the champions are crowned, the standout individuals of the season in the Premiership, Premiership Women’s Rugby and the England national teams were recognised at the Rugby Awards, voted for by the players.
Gloucester and Wales scrum-half Williams took home the Premiership Player of the Season award after a superb debut season at Kingsholm.
The former Cardiff half-back's form was rewarded with a call-up to the British & Irish Lions squad for this summer's tour of Australia, where he will compete with Alex Mitchell and Jamison Gibson-Park for a starting spot.
"Coming from the players from each team, it means a lot. I'm really grateful and very proud," said Williams.
"I didn't know what to expect from this season. I came in open-minded, and I've thoroughly enjoyed it. I couldn't have picked a better club than Gloucester, and better coaches. They have been class.
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"It was the style of play that appealed. That has shown through the season. They give us the freedom to play and express ourselves, and I think that has benefited me and the boys."
Another member of the Lions squad, Northampton back row Pollock, won Breakthrough Player of the Season after his storming rise.
Pollock had only played 30 minutes of Premiership rugby ahead of the 2024/25 season, but by the end had made his full England debut, played a pivotal role in Northampton reaching the Champions Cup final, and earned a Lions call-up.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
"The last 12 months have accelerated at a rate that I probably wouldn’t have expected them to," Pollock admitted.
"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 very focused on the next job."
Bath's Johann van Graan was named Director of Rugby of the Season after guiding his side to the top of the Premiership standings ahead of the play-offs, while Ellis Genge picked up Community Player of the Season after launching the Genge Fund charity.
The England Men’s Player of the Season award went to Northampton’s Tommy Freeman, who starred in the Six Nations and will also tour with the Lions this summer.
The Premiership Women’s Rugby season culminated in March, when Gloucester-Hartpury successfully defended their title by beating Saracens in the final.
The club’s feat was recognised as Sean Lynn was named PWR Director of Rugby of the season and Zoe Aldcroft was crowned England Women’s Player of the Season.
Leicester fly-half Jones won PWR Player of the Season, while Millie David of Bristol Bears claimed PWR Breakthrough Player of the Season.
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