Simpson-Daniel lands award

Gloucester's silky winger rewarded for prolific season

Last updated: 29th May 2008

James Simpson Daniel Gloucester

Simpson-Daniel: Guinness Premiership player of the season

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James Simpson-Daniel has been rewarded for a superb campaign with the Guinness Premiership player of the season award.

The Gloucester winger scored 10 tries in 18 Premiership appearances to confirm his status as one of English rugby's most prolific marksmen.

Simpson-Daniel, who is missing England's tour of New Zealand due to a shoulder injury, took the award ahead of Bath's Olly Barkley, who will join him at Kingsholm next season after signing for Gloucester, and current team-mate Akapusi Qera.

Wasps and England fly-half Danny Cipriani followed up his Professional Rugby Players' young player award last week by landing discovery of the season honours.

Cipriani's season was ended in unfortunate circumstances when he suffered a serious ankle injury during Wasps' play-off semi-final victory over Bath on May 18.

He will miss the Guinness Premiership final against Leicester at Twickenham on Saturday, in addition to the England tour on a long road back to fitness that could take the rest of this year.

Gloucester, who finished top of the Premiership but then lost to play-off semi final opponents Leicester, completed a double on the evening with Dean Ryan earning director of rugby honours.

Gloucester topped the Premiership for 21 of the 22 rounds, and they were also Heineken Cup quarter-finalists.

Worcester back-row forward Kai Horstmann, meanwhile, won try of the season following a length-of-the-field move in Warriors' game against Sale Sharks.

Sky Sports Premiership dream team: 15 R Haughton (Saracens), 14 P Sackey (Wasps), 13 L McAlister (Sale Sharks), 12 O Barkley (Bath), 11 S Tagicakibau (London Irish), 10 D Cipriani (Wasps), 9 M Claassens (Bath); 1 N Wood (Gloucester), 2 L Mears (Bath), 3 M Stevens (Bath), 4 N Kennedy (London Irish), 5 D Grewcock (Bath, capt), 6 C Robshaw (Harlequins), 7 M Lipman (Bath), 8 T Guest (Harlequins)