George Ford has been named Gallagher Premiership Rugby Player of the Month for December.
Ford's win makes it a second Player of the Month trophy for the Leicester Tigers fly-half this season after winning October's prize.
The 28-year-old featured in both of the club's December victories in this season's league, at home to Harlequins and away to Bristol Bears on Boxing Day.
Ford was nominated alongside fellow Leicester players George Martin and Tommy Reffell for December's award, as well as nine other Premiership players.
Harlequins back-rower Alex Dombrandt was second in this month’s poll with his club-mate Andre Esterhuizen finishing in third place.
The win sees Ford become just the second player in nine seasons to win a second Player of the Month award in the same season.
Speaking about the win, Ford said: "Looking at this season's competition and the calibre of player, I feel lucky to be able to be awarded this prize.
"While I appreciate the votes, and thank you to those who did vote, it is never about one person in rugby and there is a whole squad of players at Tigers contributing to what we are doing at the moment.
"This award is as much theirs as mine."
Chris Noah, the Managing Director of Gallagher’s Leicester branch, said: “As Gallagher Premiership Rugby played out its final games of 2021, George Ford’s outstanding form, cool head and calm authority continued. In two tightly fought clashes to close out the year, we first saw him kick Tigers to victory over Quins, before bringing his side back into contention several times to ultimately help them seal a last-minute win over Bristol Bears.
“Both performances came after news broke of George’s move to Sale at the end of the season, and both demonstrated to all of us fans here in the local rugby community that he will play out his time at Welford Road with all the passion, commitment and focus we’ve come to expect from him since his time as a young Tigers academy graduate. Well done George – a worthy winner of Gallagher Player of the Month for the second time in three months!”
As part of his prize for being named Gallagher Player of the Month, Ford wins a shirt signed by the Leicester Tigers squad and framed by Gallagher to gift to a charity of his choice, to help them raise funds for their chosen cause.
