As Warriors’ season is now over, we thought we’d give you some 2016/17 player stats and a brief overview to get you excited as we look ahead to the new campaign!
Here are some of 2016/17's standout performers..
Josh Adams – Winger/Full-back
Having started the season in the Academy, Josh Adams quickly showed he had what it takes at the top level after making his debut at Bath Rugby in September. Promoted to the first-team, he went on to make 23 appearances with 13 tries – becoming the Club’s top tryscorer for the 2016/17 campaign. In the league, Adams made 16 appearances which included 84 carries and 14 breaks. The Welshman, who’s being tipped by many to go on and represent his country, made 557 metres while also crossing for six tries and providing two assists.
Alafoti Faosiliva – Back row
Big unit Alafoti Faosiliva made 17 appearances in his first campaign at Sixways with 15 of those coming in the Premiership as he made 121 carries. The strong Samoan international made 397 metres and bashed past 26 defenders, while also winning 11 turnovers.
Dean Hammond – Winger
Another youngster who graduated from the Warriors Academy, winger Dean Hammond enjoyed a fine campaign in which he bagged eight tries in 17 appearances. Eleven of those games came in the league where the South African made 510 metres from his 78 carries, along with 14 breaks. He also beat an impressive 20 defenders.
Bryce Heem – Winger
The Kiwi flyer was in remarkable form once again during the 2016/17 season – crossing the tryline nine times in just 12 games. A player whose early season was hindered by injury, he battled back to make ten Premiership appearances which included seven tries and two assists. In those ten matches, Heem made 83 carries with a whopping 645 metres – including nine offloads, 19 breaks and 32 defenders beaten. He also won 14 turnovers to put him amongst the top stats in the league. In fact, Heem was amongst the best averages in the Premiership for metres made, defenders beaten and turnovers. Warriors fans will hope to see a lot more of him next season!
Francois Hougaard – Scrum-half
The Springbok was another frustrated star early in the season having been absent through injury following time away with his country. But upon his comeback, he made ten influential appearances as Warriors secured their Premiership status. Having played just nine times in the top flight last season, Hougaard produced an enormous 579 passes and provided four try assists alongside two tries. He also made 242 metres, six breaks and 12 offloads while beating 19 defenders. He’s sure to be heading away this summer with the Springboks once again and Warriors fans will no doubt want to see him on the pitch at every opportunity next season.
Perry Humphreys – Winger
Yet another player to graduate from the Warriors Academy, Perry Humphreys enjoyed his finest season to date. In the Premiership, the pacey back made 15 appearances which included 86 carries as he made 672 metres. Humphreys also beat 28 defenders and scored four league tries – and was consequently called up for an England training camp earlier this month.
Sam Lewis – Back row
The Players’ and Coaches’ Player of the Season had to wait almost 18 months for a competitive game after injury setbacks, but since returning to action in November, Sam Lewis has been a tremendous performer for Warriors. In 13 Premiership appearances, Lewis made 87 carries, but showed his influence at the breakdown and in defence – with 11 turnovers and having made 95 per cent of his tackles. Like Josh Adams, some were surprised not to see the flanker called up for Wales this summer.
Marco Mama – Back row
Powerful back row Marco Mama suffered injury early on in the season but battled back for his place in the first-team later in the 2016/17 campaign. He went on to make 12 Premiership appearances and was quite a handful as he made 297 metres with his 90 carries. He also made nine breaks while beating 18 defenders, while defensively he made 89 per cent of his tackles.
Ryan Mills – Fly-half/Centre
Although Ryan Mills prefers to play at centre, he did an incredible job for his side at fly-half in the 2016/17 season – despite being missing at the start through injury. He made 17 appearances and during his 12 Premiership games, he slotted an impressive 99 points from the tee – including a match-winning 24-point haul against Saracens. He also showed his potency with ball in hand, having beaten 16 defenders and provided five try assists. And, in defence, he won ten turnovers while enjoying a 91 per cent tackle success. He is yet another Warrior who has subsequently been called up for two England training camps.
Donncha O’Callaghan – Lock
He may be 38-years-old but the British & Irish Lion is still showing he has what it takes at the top level. Having been named captain in January for the first time, O’Callaghan actually went on to help lead Warriors to 18 points in eight Premiership games as they steered themselves to safety. He made the third-most minutes of any Warriors player in the league, having been present for 1217 minutes of their campaign. The Irishman also won 45 lineouts and enjoyed an 89 per cent tackle success. He cannot wait for next season!
Wynand Olivier – Centre
He may now be pushing 34 years of age but Wynand Olivier has been a standout performer in his first two seasons at Sixways. During the 2016/17 campaign he racked up 23 appearances with ten tries. He played in all but one of Warriors’ Premiership games, making 521 metres which included 16 breaks, 11 offloads and 25 defenders beaten. With seven tries and three assists, the Springbok once again showed what a class act he is getting forward. He also played the most Premiership minutes of any Warriors player this season – 1444.
Chris Pennell – Full-back
Worcester born-and-bred Chris Pennell missed the start of the season through injury. But the ever-reliable full-back fought back to full fitness, making it into the league’s top averages for carries and metres made, as he carried 123 times and made 638 metres in his 12 appearances. He also made 11 breaks while contributing two tries and two assists.
Nick Schonert – Tighthead prop
After three impressive seasons as Warriors’ tighthead, Nick ‘Sharky’ Schonert was finally called up for an England training camp this week. He featured 20 times in the 2016/17 season, playing 1026 minutes of Warriors’ Premiership campaign. Warriors fans will hope he continues his fine form in the scrum in 2017/18.
Jamie Shillcock – Fly-half/Full-back
Academy youngster Jamie Shillcock was presented with opportunities early in the season due to injuries to senior players and grabbed his chances with both hands. Playing at both fly-half and full-back, the 19-year-old showed a calm head under pressure, providing two assists on his Premiership debut versus Bath Rugby before crossing for two tries on his home debut against Sale Sharks. He made a total of 14 appearances in the 2016/17 campaign before injury ruled him out for the rest of the season – but in just ten Premiership appearances, he made 66 carries with 353 metres made, along with four breaks, 13 defenders beaten, six offloads and four assists. Shillcock also kicked 30 points from the tee in his first four Premiership games.
Jack Singleton – Hooker
Jack Singleton was certainly one of Warriors’ breakthrough players in the 2016/17 season. After having made his debut in Moscow against Russian side Enisei-STM in October, he soon made his Premiership debut against Northampton Saints just a month later. Since then he has gone on to play 20 times for Warriors in his maiden season. And in ten Premiership appearances, the now 21-year-old made 94 per cent of his tackles and enjoyed a 90 per cent lineout success. His reward has been a first-team contract ahead of the new season – and just this Sunday on his 21st birthday – he was called up for an England training camp. The young hooker is a hot prospect for the future.
Will Spencer – Lock
Giant lock Will Spencer had a frustrating start to life at Sixways due to injury but after making his debut in December against Newport Gwent Dragons, he hasn’t looked back. He became a mainstay of the Warriors side, making 17 appearances – and has recently been called up for two England training camps. In his 11 Premiership games, the mammoth second row made 74 carries, beating 11 defenders and scored important tries against Bristol Rugby and Bath Rugby. He also won 29 lineouts and made 88 per cent of his tackles. After almost two years out through injury – his rapid rise to the top has been phenomenal and hopefully we will see him earn an international cap in the very near future.
Joe Taufete’e – Hooker
Joe Taufete’e only made the move to Sixways in December, but after making his Club debut in January at Brive, the massive USA star went on to have a huge impact. He picked up two tries in his ten appearances, but in his seven Premiership matches, he made 53 carries, beat eight defenders – and importantly, had an 87 per cent lineout success. Taufete’e has subsequently been named in the USA squad for their upcoming 2019 Rugby World Cup Qualifiers and is another exciting prospect for the 2017/18 season.
Ben Te’o – Centre
The England international may have been ruled out through injury and international duty for most of the campaign, but he still managed to squeeze in 12 games for his Club. In ten Premiership games, he amassed 82 carries, making 315 metres and ten breaks. He also broke into the league’s top averages with 26 defenders beaten. With three tries and two assists in those ten appearances, he’s now looking forward to a summer away with the British & Irish Lions in New Zealand – and Warriors fans will hope he gets to showcase more of his talents at Sixways in the 2017/18 campaign.
Jackson Willison – Centre
Kiwi centre Jackson Willison has been an impressive addition to the squad, having made 22 appearances in his debut season. With 19 games in the Premiership, Willison made 176 passes while gaining 340 metres which included 12 breaks and 19 defenders beaten. He only crossed for three tries – but his six assists show how important he has been to Warriors in attack. Willison played the second-most Premiership minutes of any player in the Warriors squad with 1440 – just four minutes behind fellow centre Wynand Olivier.
Top Tryscorers 2016/17 (all competitions)
Josh Adams 13
Wynand Olivier 10
Bryce Heem 9
Dean Hammond 8
Most Appearances Made 2016/17 (all competitions)
Wynand Olivier 23
Josh Adams 23
Jackson Willison 22
Donncha O'Callaghan 20
Nick Schonert 20
Jack Singleton 20