IT has been a season of plenty of downs but a fair few ups along the way, it is fair to say for Worcester Warriors.

From three 40+ point defeats in a row in October/December and the embarrassing display at home to Newcastle, to lifting the Premiership Rugby Cup on that memorable, thrilling evening in London to end the season.

But there have been some stand-out players amongst the group, regardless of results and here at the Worcester News, we have former our own awards list.

Worcester News' Player of the Season: Ted Hill

Worcester News:

I have watched this Worcester side now for two and a half years and the stand-out performer over that period has been the skipper.

Taking the captaincy on at such a young age raised a few eyebrows and when the results have been bad (which their have been plenty of) he has rarely dropped his standards.

Quick, mobile and fiercely strong, he puts himself about and makes a massive amount of tackles but also carries so well in the loose and in the close quarters to get those yards that are not always that easy to come by in this side.

His leadership qualities have grown and no doubt he will reap the rewards of the past 18 months and you would expect him to keep the armband under Steve Diamond.

Worcester News' Fans Player of the Season: Kyle Hatherell (218 of 374 Facebook votes, 45.4% of 185 votes on Twitter)

Worcester News:

Pretty unanimous vote in favour of Warriors' flanker from those voting on social media this week.

Hard to really disagree with it. He has been a battering ram this season and given his size and strength, he is such a weapon and a player no doubt that Steve Diamond wants to build around.

Man of the match in the Premiership Cup Final probably pushed this vote a fair bit and in the end saw him beat the likes of Ted Hill and fly-half Fin Smith to the award.

Worcester News' Most Improved player of the Season: Gareth Simpson

Worcester News:

The scrum-half has gone from young buck in the squad to the starting nine and has had a very impressive campaign.

Can argue he was the only reason Worcester were in the Premiership Cup Final after his two tries in the semi-final win over Gloucester, in which he really stood out.

He has grown as a character and now looks right at home in the Premiership and behind a more powerful/dominant pack next season (hopefully) we may yet not have seen the best for him just yet.

Still much to learn but looks to have a bright future at Sixways and the partnership with fellow youngster Fin Smith at fly-half has the potential to lead Worcester to better times.

Worcester News' Signing of the Season: Duhan van der Merwe

Worcester News:

Does not really require much explanation but I am going to give you one anyway.

There are times in the past where Worcester have brought in a high profile name to the club, only for them to flop, but this has been the opposite.

He has shown his ability to grab games by the scruff of the neck and score tries out of nothing with sheer skill and pace but also through pure brute force.

His tries against Sale earlier in the season were special and his score versus Gloucester in the cup semi-final exemplified exactly what he brings to the table; power, pace, strength and ability to draw three defenders in to 'try' and bring him down.

Has managed a decent haul of games given he is an international and in every game has given his all for the cause.

A world class operator and what a signing he has already proved to be. More of the same next season, Duhan.