The size of the hole left in the Bristol Bears squad from the departure of Ben Earl and Max Malins last summer was emphasised last night at the league's end-of-season awards.
Both men spent a season and a half on loan at Bristol from Saracens during the club's year in the RFU Championship having been relegated after getting hit with a 70-point deduction in punishment for breaking the Premiership's salary cap.
While at the Bears both flanker Earl and full back/winger Malins shone, helping the club to win the European Challenge Cup in 2019/20 and then finish top of the Premiership in 2020/21.
Without them this season, the Bears finished a disappointing 10th in the standings as the club's lack of depth of top quality players was exposed at times during a series of injury crises.
Last summer the pair of England internationals returned to their parent club better players and both have kicked on again this season, so much so that Earl has been crowned the Gallagher Premiership player of the season following his outstanding contribution to his club’s title challenge this season.
The 24-year-old England flanker won the last of his 13 caps after last year’s Six Nations but is pushing hard for a recall as he has helped Saracens secure a home semi-final in the Premiership play-offs this weekend with defending champions Harlequins coming to the StoneX Stadium.
Earl beat fellow nominees Danny Care and Andre Esterhuizen, of Harlequins, as well as Leicester’s George Ford and Julian Montoya, for the award which was presented at a dinner in central London.
“We’re enormously proud of Ben and how he has developed through our system,” Saracens head coach Joe Shaw said.
“His impact coming back this season has been huge and he has become an increasingly important player in our squad.
“He is a leader, a phenomenal talent and we can’t wait to see him keep growing over the coming years.”
Meanwhile, Malins has officially been crowned the Premiership Rugby Top Try-Scorer with 16 this term.
Saracens may have lost 54-7 in Round 26 at Gloucester Rugby but wing Malins’ sole try proved crucial as he went clear of Newcastle Falcons hooker George McGuigan with 15.
London Irish’s No.2 Agustin Creevy and Harlequins winger Cadan Murley finished joint third with 14 tries apiece.
Leicester Tigers boss Steve Borthwick was named director of rugby of the season with the Tigers leading the Premiership table from start to finish of the regular campaign.
Borthwick beat outgoing Northampton Saints director of rugby Chris Boyd, Gloucester Rugby’s George Skivington, Saracens’ Mark McCall and Harlequins’ Tabai Matson to the gong from the selected shortlist
The Gilbert Golden Boot for the player who has kicked the most points in the season was won by Tigers' George Ford who finished with 193 points, eight ahead of London Irish’s Paddy Jackson with Gloucester Rugby’s Adam Hastings totalling 175 points in third place.
London Irish sensation Henry Arundell was named discovery of the season following a series of high-octane displays from full-back that have placed him on the brink of England selection this summer.
Bristol Bears' Joe Joyce and Gloucester Rugby's Lewis Ludlow were beaten to the Gallagher Community Player of the Season award by Worcester Warriors’ Justin Clegg having both been shortlisted.
BT Sport Dream Team 2021-22
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), 14. Max Malins (Saracens), 13. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby), 12. André Esterhuizen (Harlequins), 11. Cadan Murley (Harlequins), 10. George Ford (Leicester Tigers), 9. Danny Care (Harlequins); 1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers), 2. George McGuigan (Newcastle Falcons), 3. Will Collier (Harlequins), 4. Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), 5. Freddie Clarke (Gloucester Rugby), 6. Hanro Liebenberg (Leicester Tigers), 7. Ben Earl (Saracens), 8. Brad Shields (Wasps)
