Rugby Union: Award for Johnson

MARTIN JOHNSON, captain of the Allied Dunbar Premiership champions Leicester, has been named player of the season. "Leicester recovered perfectly from a bad year," he said. "We were a true team, and that enabled us to come through so many important narrow wins."

Jonny Wilkinson was named young player of the season, Conor O'Shea the sponsors' players' player, and Ian McGee-chan coach of the year. Scott Murray was international (non-English) player of the season. Wakefield had fewest white or red cards and won the fair play award, while Rotherham's John Dudley was named Premiership Two player of the season.

On Tuesday night, in a separate award, Neil Back was named as the inaugural players' player of the year.

n Northampton, the Premiership runners-up, are expected to announce today that they have signed Allan Bateman from Richmond.