Loughborough Lightning players have been shortlisted for honours at The Rugby Awards 2026.
For the second season running, PREM Rugby, the Rugby Players Association (RPA), Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) and Rugby Football Union (RFU) have joined forces to celebrate the best of English Rugby at The Rugby Awards, presented by Gallagher.
And Lightning stars will be up for some top prizes on Wednesday 10 June in the awards ceremony at Old Billingsgate in London.
Both Carmela Morrall and Haineala Lutui have been shortlisted for the PWR Breakthrough Player of the Season award. Morrall has started all of Lightning’s 16 PWR fixtures so far this season. The ever-present 21-year-old is the league’s fifth most prolific carrier with 157, and made her 50th Lightning appearance in the away fixture against Saracens before Christmas. This season she has also moved to ten U21 caps and also received a call up into the senior Red Roses squad during the Guinness Women’s Six Nations 2026.
Teammate Lutui, in her debut season of senior rugby, tops the PWR carry count with 226, is second for gainline carries (105) and is in the top ten for offloads too. Her consistency and impact from both No.8 and the second row saw her included in the Red Roses squad for the Six Nations. She appeared in four of England’s five games, scoring her maiden Test try against Scotland.
Sadia Kabeya’s exploits for the Red Roses have seen her shortlisted for the England Women's Player of the Season award. The flanker was Player of the Match in the World Cup final victory over Canada, and despite injury impacting her Six Nations campaign, Kabeya remained hugely influential, playing a key role in the deciding victory over France.
With her ten tries scored so far this season, Bo Westcombe-Evans is in the top four for PWR top try scorers with two rounds remaining.
Lightning will also hope to be in the running for PWR’s Try of the Season gong, with the shortlist for that award set to be confirmed after the conclusion of Round 16.
The shortlists for the Gallagher PREM Rugby awards were chosen by a panel consisting of Rachael Burford (RPA), Christian Day (RPA), Jill Douglas (ITV, BBC), Ali Eykyn (TNT Sports), Hugh Godwin (i), Chris Jones (BBC), Alex Lowe (The Times), Gavin Mairs (Telegraph), Ugo Monye (BBC, TNT Sports), Nick Mullins (TNT Sports) and Claire Thomas (BBC, TNT Sports).
The winners of the Gallagher Player of the Season and Breakthrough Player of the Season, presented by Defender, will be determined following a player vote.
Northampton Saints have also received multiple nominations, with Tommy Freeman, Archie McParland, Edoardo Todaro, Phil Dowson and Tom James all in contention for awards.
THE RUGBY AWARDS 2026 SHORTLISTS:
Gallagher Player of the Season:
- Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
- Billy Searle (Leicester Tigers)
- Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)
- Tom Willis (Saracens)
PWR Player of the Season, presented by Canterbury:
- Olivia Apps (Saracens)
- Maud Muir (Gloucester Hartpury)
- Clàudia Peña (Harlequins)
- Emma Sing (Gloucester Hartpury)
Gallagher PREM Breakthrough Player of the Season, presented by Defender:
- Noah Caluori (Saracens)
- Archie McParland (Northampton Saints)
- Edoardo Todaro (Northampton Saints)
- Kepu Tuipulotu (Bath Rugby)
PWR Breakthrough Player of the Season, presented by The British Army:
- Niamh Gallagher (Trailfinders Women)
- Haineala Lutui (Loughborough Lightning)
- Camela Morrall (Loughborough Lightning)
- Sarah Parry (Harlequins)
Gallagher PREM Director of Rugby of the Season, presented by London Pride:
- Rob Baxter (Exeter Chiefs)
- Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)
- Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
- Johann van Graan (Bath Rugby)
PWR Director of Rugby of the Season, presented by Gallagher:
- Alex Austerberry (Saracens)
- Tom Hudson (Sale Sharks)
- Barney Maddison (Trailfinders Women)
- Dan Murphy (Gloucester Hartpury)
Gallagher PREM Top Try Scorer, presented by Christopher Ward (*as of Round 16):
- Henry Arundell (Bath) – 12
- Kalaveti Ravouvou (Bristol) – 12
- Tommy Freeman (Northampton) – 15
- Noah Caluori (Saracens) – 18
To be determined following the conclusion of Gallagher PREM Round 18 on Saturday 6 June.
PWR Top Try Scorer, presented by eToro (*as of Round 16):
- Mia Venner (Gloucester Hartpury) – 11
- Bo Westcombe-Evans (Loughborough Lightning) – 10
- Rhona Lloyd (Sale Sharks) – 11
- May Campbell (Saracens) – 12
To be determined following the conclusion of PWR regular season.
Gallagher PREM Try of the Season, presented by TNT Sports & PWR Try of the Season:
The shortlist, selected by the media panel, will be finalised following the conclusion of Gallagher PREM Round 18.
The winner will be determined by a public vote, closing on Tuesday 9 June.
Gallagher PREM Community Player of the Season, presented by Funding Circle:
- Sebastian de Chaves (Newcastle Falcons)
- Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby)
- Will Hobson (Harlequins)
- Tom James (Northampton Saints)
The winner of the Community Player of the Season was voted for by the employees of Funding Circle.
England Men’s Player of the Season, presented by British Airways:
- Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
- Ben Earl (Saracens)
- Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
- Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
England Women’s Player of the Season, presented by LexisNexis Risk Solutions:
- Amy Cokayne (Sale Sharks)
- Zoe Harrison (Saracens)
- Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning)
- Meg Jones (Trailfinders Women)
The RPA Personal Development Awards:
- Kieran Verden & Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby)
- Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs)
- Natasha Hunt & Zoe Stratford (Gloucester Hartpury)
- Emeke Ilione (Leicester Tigers)
All recipients will be acknowledged on the night.
The RPA Blyth Spirit Award
The recipient will be announced at the ceremony.