Worcester Ladies’ Rachel Lund has been shortlisted for the Women’s Premiership Player of the Year award.
Premiership Rugby, who are currently responsible for the men's Premiership XVs and Sevens competitions, have confirmed that Lund is one of three players shortlisted for this year's gong.
The Women's Premiership Player of the Year award will this year be made part of the annual Aviva Premiership Rugby Awards, which take place on Wednesday 18 May at the Hilton, Park Lane, London.
Lund began playing rugby at the age of seven at Malton & Norton in North Yorkshire and also represented West Park in Leeds.
After representing both the North and Yorkshire Under 18s, Lund moved into the senior set-up before playing in her first Premiership season at Darlington Mowden Park Sharks.
In 2013, she joined Worcester and since making the move, Lund has played for England Under 20s, captaining them on two occasions, while also being nominated for Worcester's Players' Player of the Season in 2014/15.
She went on to be selected for the Canada tour with England last summer and was capped against the USA and France.
The centre said: “I am motivated by my family and the desire I have to represent my country.
“At the age of 11 I told my mum I wanted to captain my country and those were my prophetic words!”
The Women's Premiership Player of the Year award itself is based on votes from Women's Premiership players from across the country and will be presented at the awards evening.
Premiership Rugby Director of Communications Paul Morgan said: “We are delighted to be able to present the Women's Premiership Players' Player of the Year award, with support from the RFU, on one of the biggest nights in the rugby calendar.
“The Aviva Premiership Rugby Clubs continue to make a bigger and bigger commitment to women's rugby every year and this is another example of our commitment to promoting women's sport.
“The Women's Premiership is thriving and we have seen a new generation of women players emerge into the England team since Maggie Alphonsi and her teammates lifted the Rugby World Cup in 2014. We are also pleased to confirm that at the awards there will be a player from each of the Women's Premiership sides and not just the three shortlisted players.”
The winner will be announced first on Twitter via the @premrugby account.
Women's Premiership Player of the Year nominees:
• Poppy Cleall (Saracens)
• Harriet Millar Mills (Lichfield)
• Rachel Lund (Worcester)