Ollie Lawrence named Premier League Player of the Season. Photo: Getty Images/Paul Harding
Ollie Lawrence flew to London from Lisbon specifically to collect his Premier League Player of the Season award, breaking up a post-season party with his Bath teammates. On his tour, the England center will travel to Barcelona with 15 of his former Worcester teammates for a bachelor party. While the week itself is a fitting microcosm of Lawrence's tumultuous two-club campaign, given the year he has lived, one can forgive a little pampering.
After all, early in the season, Lawrence played at the center of Worcester, his boyhood club before the Warriors went under management in October. At this point, Lawrence too was in the international wilderness that Eddie Jones, then England manager, had not dreamed of following his debut in 2020.
Fast forward seven months and Lawrence from Worcester is now Lawrence from Bath. The center has been a revelation at his new West Country club since Worcester's passing, ending a fine season during which he played in four of England's five Six Nations caps, earning an individual accolade that his diligence is well-deserved.
No centre-forward has evaded more tackles, beaten more defenders or scored more carry meters this season in the Premier League than the 23-year-old, and he has missed most of them due to international calls. Frankly, Lawrence was a contender for the MVP on Wednesday night.
Lawrence was a revelation in Bath. Credit: Getty Images/Ryan Hiscott
"It was pretty surreal" He says. "I feel incredibly lucky. Just think how we started with Worcester at the beginning of the year, and now we are at these awards with such great players, coaches, journalists and fans. It means a lot to me. It's amazing to receive an award, but there are a lot of great players who haven't been nominated either.
"This year I've had to sometimes pinch myself to remember where I came from, but I'll stand firm on my feet, have fun and hopefully go again next season.
“There was an element of desperation. I was given a chance and I couldn't help but take it. I was lucky that I had really good friends in Bath, who suited me quite well. It's the despair of knowing that I might not have a job — some of my best friends still don't — being here and now is something special.
«Hunger and motivation for me was that I want to be one of the best players in this country and in this league. I tried to do it this season — some people agree, some people disagree — but as long as I keep striving for the best, I'll be happy with it.»"
However, for every yin, there is a yang. There have been ups – an England comeback, a resurgence of Bath and a scoring run to secure the next season's Rugby Cup – but there have been downs.
"It's a week before Worcester goes into administration , was a really tough week for us because we knew it was happening in the [Newcastle] game, so it was one of those where some boys were asking if we should play, " Lawrence says.
"All this week at all, I don't know, I'm sitting back now and thinking about it… I haven't seen some of these boys for a very long time, but I was lucky to see some of them, and go out on the field in Sixways in the last time and winning was something that will always be special to me and hopefully one day I can go back there and play in front of those fans again"
During the crisis, Lawrence turned to him for advice. The center believes that England teammate Anthony Watson was there to hug him.
Ollie Lawrence and Anthony Watson: Companions on the England team and friends. Photo: PA Wire/David Davies
"My family are people who I'm very close to, but sometimes they don't always understand rugby culture" Lawrence says. “Anthony Watson was one of the players… we had a lot of conversations at the time, obviously he knew how hard it was for me, he also went through similar injuries and similar difficulties, and he was a real support for me. and I'll always be grateful for that"
Another influence on Lawrence's revival, though perhaps less directly, is Steve Borthwick. The England manager has made Lawrence an integral part of his Six Nations plans and Lawrence is now firmly set on a place in Borthwick's World Cup squad where fitness will be key.
&# 34. Essential for all the players he talked to is to make sure you're in good shape by going to these camps instead of using the camps to get in shape.» Lawrence says.
"In the next five weeks, I will focus on getting in shape, exercising as much as possible, and trying to spend the week somewhere abroad. Besides, that's all. Whatever happens will happen."
The World Cup Fitness Marathon starts right now. Well, as soon as that deer gets out of the way. And you can't envy Lawrence for that.
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