Ruan Ackermann named Aviva Premiership Rugby player of the month

by The TRU Team Thursday 7 December 2017

Aviva Premiership Rugby Player of the Month for October is Gloucester's Ruan Ackermann

©Aviva

Gloucester Rugby no.8 Ruan Ackermann has been named Aviva Premiership Rugby Player of the Month for November 2017.

Ackermann has made a huge impression at Kingsholm, helping his side into the top four of Aviva Premiership Rugby since arriving in the summer from the Lions.

Rugby World Cup winner Will Greenwood is in the perfect position to assess Ackermann’s qualities having coached him while he played for the Barbarians against the All Blacks.

“Every team needs a Ruan,” said Greenwood. “The guy is a total team player, with an immense work ethic.

“I found Ruan epically fit, a player who is unbelievable shape. He is so dynamic, tough physically and mentally. “

Greenwood believes Ackermann has made a massive impact at Gloucester Rugby, adding: “The reality is every successful team needs a Ruan, the total team player, who has immense work ethic, awareness of space and he will always make the important tackles.”

Ackermann was judged by a panel of experts as the player who made the biggest impact in the League over the month. He was involved in a four-way battle for the latest title, eventually beating Worcester Warriors pair Josh Adams and Francois Hougaard and Olly Woodburn of Exeter Chiefs to the title.

Ackermann was voted for by a panel of media professionals based on his performances in November – Nick Mullins (BT Sport), Alastair Eykyn (BT Sport), Mick Cleary (The Daily Telegraph), Sarah Mockford (Rugby World), Jonny Fordham (The Sun), Jill Douglas (ITV Sport), Chris Jones (BBC 5 Live), David Rogers (Getty Images) and Tom Hamilton (ESPN). The panel was chaired by Paul Morgan, Premiership Rugby's Communications Director.
He wins a trophy an d a £250 donation to the charity of his choice.

Winners in the 2017-18 season
November – Ruan Ackermann (Gloucester Rugby)
October – Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
September – Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)

Winners in the 2016-17 season
April – Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby)
March – Christian Wade (Wasps)
February – James Short (Exeter Chiefs)
December – Tom Varndell (Bristol Rugby)
November – Freddie Burns (Leicester Tigers)
October – Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
September – Jimmy Gopperth (Wasps)

Winners in the 2015-16 season
October – Nick Evans (Harlequins)
November – Nathan Hughes (Wasps)
December – Maro Itoje (Saracens)
January – Thomas Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs)
February – George Smith (Wasps)
March – Francois Hougaard (Worcester Warriors)
April – Teimana Harrison (Northampton Saints)

Winners in the 2014-15 season
September – Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
October – Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby)
November – Thomas Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs)
December – Samu Manoa (Northampton Saints)
January – Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
February – Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
March – Elliot Daly (Wasps)
April – Joe Simpson (Wasps)

Winners in the 2013-14 season
September – Jacques Burger (Saracens)
October – Samu Manoa (Northampton Saints)
November - George Ford (Bath Rugby)
December – Nick Easter (Harlequins)
January – Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
February – Vereniki Goneva (Leicester Tigers)
March – Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks)
April – Chris Ashton (Saracens)