Bath Rugby captain Ben Spencer was narrowly beaten in the race for the Gallagher Premiership Player of the Season, leaving the club without any awards at the 2026 end-of-season gala held in London. Saracens’ number eight Tom Willis took home the top accolade, capping off an outstanding season before his summer move to Bordeaux-Begles, the reigning Champions Cup winners.
Willis prevailed over stiff competition from Spencer, Northampton Saints’ Tommy Freeman, and Leicester Tigers’ Billy Searle. Despite Saracens missing the play-offs, Willis’s performances stood out, earning him the prestigious title.
In the Breakthrough Player of the Season category, Bath’s promising hooker Kepu Tuipulotu was bested by Saracens try-scoring sensation Noah Caluori, who led the league in tries. Northampton Saints’ Archie McParland and Edoardo Todaro were also shortlisted for the award.
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Bath’s head of rugby, Johann van Graan, was edged out in the Director of Rugby of the Year category by Northampton Saints’ Phil Dowson. Dowson guided his team to a top-table finish despite a smaller budget than Bath. Other contenders included Geoff Parling of Leicester Tigers and Rob Baxter of Exeter Chiefs.
Additionally, Bath hooker Tom Dunn missed the Gallagher Premiership Community Player of the Season award, which was won by Northampton’s Tom James. These awards underline Northampton Saints’ strong presence throughout the evening.
Key award winners included:
- Gallagher Player of the Season: Tom Willis (Saracens)
- Breakthrough Player of the Season: Noah Caluori (Saracens)
- Director of Rugby of the Season: Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)
- Community Player of the Season: Tom James (Northampton Saints)
- Try of the Season: Josh Kemeny (Northampton Saints), for a spectacular score against Sale Sharks
These honours showcase standout performances across the Premiership, yet for Bath Rugby, the night was a reminder of how tough the competition remains at the highest level.