Cape Town - England and Bath flyhalf George Ford has been crowned Aviva Premiership Player of the Season for 2014/15 to cap an outstanding year for club and country.
The 22-year-old featured on a five-strong shortlist that included the Wasps centre Elliot Daly and back row Nathan Hughes, Bath centre Jonathan Joseph and Saracens No 8 Billy Vunipola.
The Ford household was given double reason to celebrate at the Premiership’s awards ceremony in London after George’s father Mike was named director of rugby of the season for his work at Bath.
Despite an array of South Africans playing in England, Springbok loose forward Francois Louw was the only player named in the Aviva Premiership Team of the Season.
Team of the season:
15 Anthony Watson (Bath), 14 Christian Wade (Wasps), 13 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), 12 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), 11 Sinoti Sinoti (Newcastle Falcons), 10 George Ford (Bath Rugby), 9 Joe Simpson (Wasps), 8 Nathan Hughes (Wasps), 7 Francois Louw (Bath), 6 Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs), 5 Dean Mumm (Exeter Chiefs - captain), 4 Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers), 3 Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), 2 Jamie George (Saracens), 1 Matt Mullan (Wasps)