Exeter's Simmonds named Rugby Union Premiership player of the season
He's scored a record 20 tries this season.
Exeter forward Sam Simmonds has been named Gallagher Premiership player of the season.
Simmonds, who will tour South Africa with the British and Irish Lions next month, has scored a Premiership record 20 tries this term.
And he proved an instrumental figure behind Exeter reaching the Premiership play-offs - they host Sale Sharks on Saturday - after finishing second behind regular season table-toppers Bristol.
Number eight Simmonds edged out Harlequins fly-half and runner-up Marcus Smith to win the award, Premiership Rugby said, while Exeter flanker Dave Ewers was third.
Smith finished the regular season as Premiership top scorer, amassing 270 points, which included eight tries.
The other three players short-listed for the award were Bristol pair Steven Luatua and Piers O'Conor, in addition to Leicester back-row forward Jasper Wiese.