SIXWAYS star Chris Pennell has spoken of his delight after being nominated for the Aviva Premiership Player of the Season award.
The club centurian, who turned 27 on Saturday, was chosen as one of the six-man shortlist, which includes England ace Mike Brown and Leicester Tigers wing Vereniki Goneva.
With Dean Ryan’s men starring down the barrel of relegation, it may be a surprise to some that a Warriors player could be in the running for the award.
But Pennell, who has recently agreed a three-year deal at the club, won over the panel of media professionals with a string of outstanding displays while he has also played every minute of Worcester’s Premiership season.
“I’m really pleased to have been considered for the Premiership’s Player of the Season,” Pennell said.
“There are some incredible players up for the award so it’ll be tough, but fingers crossed I might be in with a shout. You never know.”
And Pennell said his success for Warriors has been down to consistency in selection.
“Having a decent run of games has certainly helped and I’ve built up some form over the last couple of seasons,” he added.
“Just having that run of games and working hard with the coaches and learning from the vast amount of knowledge that those guys have, has most definitely helped.”
Other nominees include Dan Braid, of Sale Sharks, Jacques Burger, of Saracens, and Samu Manoa, of Northampton Saints, with the winner announced at the Hilton, Park Lane on 15 May.
Phil Winstanley, the rugby director at Premiership Rugby, added: “There were a number of compelling candidates for this prestigious title and it was very difficult to reduce it to a six-man shortlist.
“I think the panel managed to arrive at a very balanced list, forwards and backs side by side.”