Willis wins Prem player of year before France move

Willis' Saracens side missed out on a Prem semi-final place following defeat at Exeter on the final day of the regular season [Getty Images]Saracens number eight Tom Willis says he has no regrets about his move to France next season after being crowned Prem player of the year.

>Willis beat Leicester fly-half Billy Searle, Bath scrum-half Ben Spencer and Northampton back Tommy Freeman to win the prestigious award.

>The 27-year-old Willis has excelled this campaign but has sacrificed his England career in order to join double Champions Cup winners Bordeaux.

>"I've got no regrets - I'm massively excited," he told BBC Sport.

>"Look at what Bordeaux have achieved in Europe the last two seasons - it's incredible - and the team I'm trying to get into is incredible.

>"I want to try to add to what they are already doing."

>For Willis, it will be a return to Bordeaux where he spent a season following Wasps' liquidation in October 2022.

>He then joined Saracens ahead of the 2023-2024 season and has spent the past three years at the StoneX.

>"[The award] means a massive amount, it is a reflection of what Saracens have offered me the last three years," he added.

>"They've backed me throughout and filled me with confidence, and that's freed me up and allowed me to go out and play the rugby I want to play."

>Willis' team-mate Noah Calouri scooped the breakthrough player of the year, with Northampton boss Phil Dowson director of rugby of the year.

Top club bosses call on England to help limit player workloadCanada scrum-half Liv Apps picked up the Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) player of the year award having originally joined Saracens women at the start of the season as injury cover.

>She told BBC Sport the whole season had been a "whirlwind" having previously spent most of her time on the Sevens circuit.

>"I knew that if I wanted to take my rugby to the next level, I think I needed to come over to this league and play professional rugby over here, and so I'm really happy I made that change," she said.

>After guiding Ealing Trailfinders into the play-offs, Barney Maddison was awarded PWR director of rugby of the season.

>Leicester prop Joe Heyes won the England men's player of the season, with Red Roses star Zoe Harrison taking the England women's award.