Loughborough Lightning players Haineala Lutui and Bo Westcombe-Evans both collected accolades on Wednesday evening, as their performances this season were recognised at The Rugby Awards (presented by Gallagher).
For the second year running, English rugby, Premiership Rugby, the Rugby Players Association (RPA), Rugby Football Union (RFU), and Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) united to honour the superstars of the sport in one combined awards ceremony.
It has been a remarkable first year in senior rugby for 19-year-old Lutui, who earned the PWR Breakthrough Player of the Season, presented by the British Army.
The versatile forward has gone from playing in BUCS Super Rugby for the Loughborough University side to the PWR and onto international honours, earning her first senior Red Roses cap in front of 77,000 people at Allianz Stadium.
Lutui topped the league for carries with 247 and finished second for gain line carries behind teammate Alev Kelter, in just her debut season of senior rugby and appeared in four of England’s five games, scoring her maiden Test try against Scotland.
She said: “I need to credit my dad, he’s been a massive influence on my journey, and he’s been the most supportive person out there.
“I love being at Loughborough with a great group of girls and coaches, and I can just be myself.”
Meanwhile, Lightning teammate Westcombe-Evans finished the regular PWR season as joint top tryscorer with 12 tries in 16 appearances. The Lightning winger is a joint winner presented by eTororo, with May Campbell, Mia Venner and Rhona Lloyd for the accolade.
The winger opened her haul for the season in Round 1 against Harlequins, adding a further impressive four tries on her 50th appearance in African Violet at home to East Midlands rivals Leicester Tigers in Round 4 and finally reached 12 tries for the season in Round 18 against Tigers last weekend.
Lastly, for Lightning, World Cup Winner Sadia Kabeya was also named in the PWR Team of the Season, recognised for her fantastic contributions in the African Violet this season.
Elsewhere on the night, Northampton Saints Director of Rugby Phil Dowson was named Gallagher PREM DOR of the season, with Josh Kemeny also winning PREM try of the season, and Tom James picked up Community Player of the Season, recognising his contributions to the local community through his role as a Programme Ambassador for Northampton Saints Foundation.
Tommy Freeman was also named in the Gallagher PREM Team of the season, selected by the TNT Sports talent team.
THE RUGBY AWARDS 2025/26 WINNERS
Gallagher Player of the Season:
Tom Willis (Saracens)
Gallagher PREM Breakthrough Player of the Season, presented by Defender:
Noah Caluori (Saracens)
The winners of the Gallagher Player of the Season and Gallagher PREM Breakthrough Player of the Season, presented by Defender, were determined by a vote of PREM Rugby players.
Gallagher PREM Director of Rugby of the Season, presented by London Pride:
Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)
The winner of Director of Rugby of the Season was chosen by a panel consisting of Christian Day (RPA), Jill Douglas (ITV, BBC), Ali Eykyn (TNT Sports), Hugh Godwin (The i Paper), Chris Jones (BBC), Alex Lowe (The Times), Ugo Monye (BBC, TNT Sports), Nick Mullins (TNT Sports), Charles Richardson (Telegraph), and Claire Thomas (BBC, TNT Sports).
Gallagher PREM Community Player of the Season, presented by Funding Circle:
Tom James (Northampton Saints)
The winner of the Community Player of the Season was voted for by the employees of Funding Circle.
Gallagher PREM Try of the Season, presented by TNT Sports:
Josh Kemeny (Northampton Saints) vs Sale Sharks in Round 7
The winner was determined by a public vote, with Kemeny securing 67% of the vote.
Gallagher PREM Top Try Scorer, presented by Christopher Ward:
Noah Caluori (Saracens) – 18 tries
Gallagher PREM Team of the Season:
15 Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
14 Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg (Bristol Bears)
11 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
10 Billy Searle (Leicester Tigers)
9 Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)
1 Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
2 Jamie Blamire (Leicester Tigers)
3 Thomas du Toit (Bath Rugby)
4 Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
5 Andrea Zambonin (Exeter Chiefs)
6 Tom Hooper (Exeter Chiefs)
7 Fitz Harding (Bristol Bears)
8 Tom Willis (Saracens)
The Team was selected by TNT Sports.
Other awards presented at The Rugby Awards 2026, presented by Gallagher:
England Men’s Player of the Season, presented by British Airways:
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
England Women's Player of the Season, presented by LexisNexis Risk Solutions:
Zoe Harrison (Saracens)
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)
The RPA Blyth Spirit Award:
Lewis Moody
PWR Player of the Season, presented by Canterbury:
Olivia Apps (Saracens)
PWR Breakthrough Player of the Season, presented by The British Army:
Haineala Lutui (Loughborough Lightning)
PWR Director of Rugby of the Season, presented by Gallagher:
Barney Maddison (Trailfinders Women)
PWR Top Try Scorer, presented by eToro:
May Campbell (Saracens), Rhona Lloyd (Sale Sharks), Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury) & Bo Westcombe-Evans (Loughborough Lightning) – 12 tries
PWR Team of the Season:
15 Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury)
14 Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury)
13 Claudia Peña (Harlequins)
12 Meg Jones (Trailfinders Women)
11 Millie David (Bristol Bears)
10 Zoe Harrison (Saracens)
9 Olivia Apps (Saracens)
1 Hope Rogers (Exeter Chiefs)
2 May Campbell (Saracens)
3 Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury)
4 Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury)
5 Alana Borland (Trailfinders Women)
6 Rachel Malcolm (Trailfinders Women)
7 Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning)
8 Aoife Wafer (Harlequins)