Wikus van Heerden was named as the Richard Hill Player of the Season at the Saracens Awards Dinner on Saturday night.

The World Cup winner beat off competition from Steve Borthwick, Matias Aguero and Alex Goode to win the coveted prize which he accepted at the event attended by more than 750 people.

Since arriving November, van Heerden had an instant impact on the team where his performances from the back row made him one of the first names on the team sheet and even saw him captain the side in the absence of Borthwick and Andy Farrell. Injury ruled him out of the last few games of the season but the flanker will be fit and ready for the start of the 2009/10 season.

Goode, who celebrated his 21st birthday two weeks ago, was named as the Young Player of the Season after a year which saw the Academy graduate make the full back spot his own and also earn a call up to the England Saxons.

He won the award ahead of Andy Saull and Noah Cato, both of who had fantastic debut seasons as part of the first team squad.

Michael Owen collected the Peter Deakin Award for Services to the Community while Rodd Penney’s solo 100m try against Bath at Vicarage Road was a clear and popular winner for Try of the Season. - Saracens.com