Saracens' Olivia Apps named PWR Player of the Season ahead of semi-final showdown

Olivia Apps, the Canada international and Saracens scrum-half, has been named Premiership Women’s Rugby Player of the Season at the Rugby Awards, with the honour arriving days before her club hosts Exeter Chiefs in a winner-takes-all semi-final at StoneX Stadium.

The Ontario-born half-back was also included in the PWR Team of the Season, where she partnered Saracens fly-half Zoe Harrison in the nine-ten axis. Apps, who has spoken openly about the value of testing herself in the 15-a-side game after joining the Canadian programme, described the season as an important step in her development.

“It’s good timing for me to experience something new and see if I like playing 15s as much as I think I do,” Apps said. “It was just a good experiment year and I have had a lot of support from all the coaching staff. I think I needed a new challenge to see another rugby environment, play with a different team and see how that could help my development.”

Saracens were represented further in the Team of the Season through May Campbell, whose 12-try haul earned her a share of the Top Try Scorer award alongside Rhona Lloyd of Sale Sharks, Mia Venner of Gloucester Hartpury, and Bo Westcombe-Evans of Loughborough Lightning.

The Breakthrough Player of the Season award went to Loughborough Lightning’s Haineala Lutui. The 19-year-old has led the PWR for carries this season with 241, and her relentless work-rate earned her a maiden England call-up, culminating in a Red Roses debut during the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations.

Trailfinders Women head coach Barney Maddison was recognised as Director of Rugby of the Season after guiding the club to knockout rugby for the first time in their history.

PWR Team of the Season: 15. Emma Sing (Gloucester Hartpury), 14. Mia Venner (Gloucester Hartpury), 13. Claudia Pena (Harlequins), 12. Meg Jones (Trailfinders Women), 11. Millie David (Bristol Bears), 10. Zoe Harrison (Saracens), 9. Olivia Apps (Saracens).