Tomos Williams will join Jac Morgan in heading to Portugal for the British & Irish Lions training camp this week boosted by the announcement he was not only voted into the Gallagher Premiership ‘Team of the Season’, but also named as the tournament’s ‘Player of the Season’. The 30-year-old Gloucester scrum half beat off the […]
Tomos Williams will join Jac Morgan in heading to Portugal for the British & Irish Lions training camp this week boosted by the announcement he was not only voted into the Gallagher Premiership ‘Team of the Season’, but also named as the tournament’s ‘Player of the Season’.
The 30-year-old Gloucester scrum half beat off the challenges of Thomas du Toit (Bath), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Finn Russell (Bath) and Tom Willis (Saracens) to take the top individual award and earn himself a boost ahead of his battle England’s Alex Mitchell and Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park for the Lions No 9 jersey in Australia.
“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.
“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.”
Japan-bound prop Nicky Smith also made the team of the season for his exploits on the loose head side of the Leicester Tigers scrum. He was in the side that reached the Gallagher Premiership final on Saturday, 14 June with a thrilling win over Sale Sharks at Welford Road.
He was joined by two other Welshmen in the Tigers side, flanker Tommy Reffell and No 8 Olly Cracknell. They will meet Bath at Twickenham after they overcame Bristol Beas in their home semi-final.
Meanwhile, Morgan was named in the URC Elite XV for the past season, while Ioan Lloyd was named as the winner of the Gilbert Golden Boot winner and Harri Millard picked up the OFX Top Try Scorer award.
Cardiff’s Cam Winnett was named as the URC Ironman, having missed just 13 minutes all season.