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Jack Willis crowned RPA players' player of the year

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Wasps flanker Jack Willis has been crowned the players’ player of the year at the virtually held 2020 RPA awards. The back row polled the most number of votes from his fellow professionals to claim the most prestigious award in the English game, capping off a phenomenal comeback season for Wasps.

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The 23-year-old, who was also nominated for the RPA’s young player of the year award, follows in the footsteps of Gloucester fly-half Danny Cipriani and becomes one of the youngest recipients to win the honour.

Coming back from a long-term injury at the beginning of the season, Willis has set the Gallagher Premiership alight. Topping the charts with 44 turnovers and nine tries to boot, the flanker’s stats highlight how much of an impact he has had on Wasps’ Premiership resurgence.

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Willis said: “It’s an incredible honour to win this award and for it to be voted by all the players and teams that I have played against, and my peers, makes it even more special. It’s something that I’m extremely proud of and something later in life, post-career, that will bring me enormous pride and be a highlight of my career.”

Meanwhile, Louis Rees-Zammit took the title of young player of the year. The Gloucester speedster has been in scintillating form, scoring a plethora of tries and receiving a Welsh international call up in the process.

Rees-Zammit said: “It’s an honour to win it and I want to thank all the players who voted for me. It means a lot to me and my family because at the start of the season I didn’t expect this. It’s been a bit of a shock to play in the Premiership and then all of a sudden to win this is amazing.”

Other notable winners included Zoe Aldcroft as England women’s player of the year, Tom Curry as England men’s player of the year, Meg Jones as England women’s 7s player of the year and Saracens stalwart Richard Wigglesworth as 2020 winner of the RPA special merit award.

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The RPA Vodafone Business Players’ Player of the YearWinner: Jack Willis (Wasps)

“A big focus for me was not to just come back (after my injury) and be the player I was. I thought it gave me an opportunity to come back and be a more physical player, so I definitely wouldn’t change it and going through that was a good learning process. 

“If Wasps can achieve what we want to achieve this season, hopefully I can sit back in the off-season and take a couple of weeks to enjoy everything that has happened. You have 100 per cent got to look back and enjoy it but equally, there is that constant improvement you want to be making as a player.”

The Sanlam Young Player of the Year Winner: Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester)

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“It’s an honour to win it and I want to thank all the players who voted for me. It means a lot to me and my family because at the start of the season I didn’t expect this. It’s been a bit of a shock to play in the Premiership and then all of a sudden to win this is amazing. All I want to do is keep helping the team and keep scoring.”

The Telegraph Women’s Sport England Women’s Player of the Year – Winner: Zoe Aldcroft

“I’m over the moon to win this. It’s great to win an award but even better when your teammates have been voting for you. Everything you do on the pitch is for those guys so it is really special. This is the first time I’ve had consistency in playing. I’ve been injured the last couple of years but this season I’ve really had the chance to make my mark.”

England Men’s Player of the Year – Winner: Tom Curry

“It’s a bit of a cliche but when you’re playing with this calibre of players and you feel like you have their respect at some point is unbelievable and something you only dream about really. 

“The World Cup was an unbelievable experience and one I will never forget, with incredible people, then the Six Nations and the club form Sale have been in. It has been a really challenging season, but one where I feel like I have developed and ultimately loved.”

England Women’s 7s Player of the Year in association with Mappin & WebbWinner: Meg Jones

“It’s great to know the girls are backing me. It was a surprise as the girls that were nominated with me, Ellie (Kildunne) and Abbie (Brown), are two phenomenal players who are a huge a part of the team and gel the team really well. So it was a bit of a surprise to me but it is a real honour.”

England Men’s 7s Player of the Year in association with Emirates Holidays – Winner: Ben Harris

“It means so much to me. When I got the call and they told me I didn’t believe it at first, it was amazing. With such a turbulent year with the 7s programme to get something like this is incredible. It means a lot to me that my teammates chose it, their opinion meant the most and that was incredibly rewarding. This year I have had more opportunities to play and have just been lucky enough to stay injury-free and get the game time. ”

RPA Vodafone Gain Line AwardWinner: Jodie Ounsley (England 7s/Sale Sharks)

“It means a lot to me, its something I’m really passionate about, so I’m very chuffed. Growing up with a disability, I feel I have a fire in my belly to go out and inspire other people, I had the idea of going into schools because I am a really shy person, so I thought you know what I am going to push myself out of my comfort zone, go into a school and talk about my journey. 

“After that first school talk I was hooked and loved the positive impact it was having. From then on I went into seven more deaf schools and spoke to kids about my journey and tried to inspire them where I can. To see deaf children now taking up rugby because of me is incredible to see. My message to the kids is to be yourselves and don’t shy away from what makes you different, embrace yourself.”

RPA Special Merit Award in association with JuraWinner: Richard Wigglesworth

“I’ve been lucky. Lucky to play in a good team and been really well managed. I missed all the big injuries that might hurt you later on and then being 80-odd kilos helps staying out of the way of the big lads! I don’t want to stop because obviously physically I feel able and mentally I am as keen as ever. The advice I’ve been given is don’t retire while you feel you can contribute, so I want to go somewhere and contribute.”

RPA Blyth Spirit Award in association with Towergate InsuranceWinners: Michael Fatialofa and Tom Smith

Tom Smith: “Sometimes it takes adversity to make you understand who your friends are and how lucky you are. The RPA have been great, they are almost a silent institution that you may not necessarily call on throughout your career, but when I was in a pretty deep hole and life was looking pretty grim, the RPA, SRU and friends, Scotland colleagues have stepped up. 

“To not have to worry about the stresses of daily life and just focus on recovering was hugely important. We had a couple of amazing dinners in London and it was nice because the kids came along and got to experience what the rugby family is all about.”

Ethan Waller on his teammate Michael Fatialofa: “The way Fats has been through this entire situation has been nothing short of outstanding. He’s done everything with a smile on his face and he continues to smash down every single obstacle in his way. I don’t think there’s anyone that’s been more deserving of this award and I’m absolutely delighted to see it go to him.”

The Mammoth Mattress RPA Hall of Fame AwardWinner: Bill Beaumont

“I’m absolutely honoured. To be recognised by players is something that is really important because while I am an old has-been, I’m still a player at heart. I still think like a player, I still think I can play, but that’s the great thing about our game.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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