This is statistically the 'Premiership Team of the Season'

Sam Simmonds has been identified as the top performer in this season's Premiership, as Opta published its Team of the Season on Wednesday.

Exeter Chiefs number eight Simmonds managed 12 tries, five more than any other forward, and also ranked in the top three forwards for metres (647), clean breaks (17) and defenders beaten (44).

Simmonds has been rewarded for his fine performances with a run in the England team, winning his first cap in November and starting three Six Nations fixtures for Eddie Jones' side.

Jonny May, Joe Launchbury and Mako Vunipola are among the other England stars who have been included in the XV, which is based on the Opta Index.

After each match, Opta completes video analysis of every touch of the ball. Each action is awarded a points value depending on its relative importance.

The player is then given a score for all his actions and this is tallied up over the course of the competition. Scores are averaged out over 80 minutes, with 880+ minutes required to be eligible.

Exeter lost to Saracens in Saturday's final at Twickenham.

Opta Premiership Team Of The Season:

15. Jason Woodward (Gloucester)

14. Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)

13. Joe Marchant (Harlequins)

12. Jimmy Gopperth (Wasps)

11. Olly Woodburn (Exeter Chiefs)

10. AJ MacGinty (Sale Sharks)

9. Nic White (Exeter Chiefs)

1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens)

2. Kyle Cooper (Newcastle Falcons)

3. Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)

4. Joe Launchbury (Wasps)

5. Will Spencer (Worcester Warriors)

6. Zach Mercer (Bath)

7. Thomas Young (Wasps)

8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)