Danny Cipriani’s stellar debut campaign in Gloucester colours saw him named Gallagher Premiership Rugby Player of the Season at last night’s star-studded awards ceremony.

The 31-year-old has been a key component of the Cherry and Whites this season as they finished third in the table, reaching the semi-finals for the first time in eight years.

Making the move from Wasps in the summer, Cipriani hasn’t been far away from various highlights reels in what has been one of the most competitive and exciting Premiership seasons to date.

His 13 try assists and metronomic boot have kept Gloucester Rugby ticking and his head coach Johan Ackermann believes Cipriani deserves his Gallagher Premiership Rugby Player of the Season award, making him only the second person after Wasps’ Jimmy Gopperth to win this and the RPA Player of the Year in the same campaign.

“I’m very pleased and so happy for Danny,” said Ackermann. “I’m so proud of him – it’s always a big thing when a player joins a club and there’s a bit of pressure on you to perform.

“You have to adapt to the style of the team and the coaches involved, and I can only speak highly of Danny’s commitment to the team.

“He’s set-up into the culture, he’s open – we have a good relationship where we’re open with each other and of course he’s made a serious impact on the field.

“He’s probably got the best skill I’ve seen from a fly-half from an attacking point of view, he can kick well and he’s extremely fast. He knows what he wants in attack and his distribution is top class.

“He’s made an immediate impact and the players around him got the benefit, but also Danny is the one who will always acknowledge the pack in front of him and the players around him, and how they’ve helped him and provided opportunities.”

Ackermann himself was also in the running for a prize at Wednesday evening’s Premiership Rugby Awards, presented by Gallagher, as he found himself on the shortlist for the Ricoh Director of Rugby of the Season.

However the gong went to Saracens’ Mark McCall.

Meanwhile, Gloucester speedster Ollie Thorley took home the Citizen Try of the Season award for his score in Round 7 against Leicester Tigers. With two minutes to go Thorley finished off a fine flowing move that started from within five minutes of Gloucester’s own try line, and it was no surprise he topped the first-ever public vote for this award.

As for the Gallagher Premiership Rugby campaign, this is the BT Sport Dream Team:

15. Alex Goode – Saracens; 14. Santiago Cordero – Exeter Chiefs, 13. Henry Slade – Exeter Chiefs, 12. Mark Atkinson – Gloucester Rugby, 11. Ollie Thorley – Gloucester Rugby; 10. Danny Cipriani – Gloucester Rugby, 9. Cobus Reinach – Northampton Saints; 1. Mako Vunipola – Saracens, 2. Jamie George – Saracens, 3. John Afoa – Bristol Bears, 4. Franco Mostert – Gloucester Rugby, 5. Will Skelton – Saracens, 6. Alex Dombrandt – Harlequins, 7. Tom Curry – Sale Sharks, 8. Matt Kvesic – Exeter Chiefs