Bath’s Ollie Lawrence named Gallagher’s Premiership Player of the Year

England center Ollie Lawrence has been named Gallagher’s Premiership player of the year at the end of a season that saw him rise from financial ruin at Worcester to make an impact at Bath.

Lawrence found a new home at the Recreation Ground in October after the Warriors were placed in administration and used the opportunity to reinvigorate a career that had been marred by injury.

The 23-year-old not only helped Bath qualify for the Heineken Champions Cup, but his powerful run led to England calling him up and he was a mainstay in their midfield during the Six Nations.

He beat out fellow nominees Owen Farrell, Jasper Wiese and Robert du Preez to win an award that was decided by game experts and presented at the Premiership Rugby awards dinner in central London.

The breakout player of the season went to London Irish’s Tom Pearson, the 23-year-old defender who is pushing hard for the England team.

Saracens’ Mark McCall took the manager of rugby of the season award after guiding his team to the Premiership play-offs by finishing top of the table in the regular season.