Simpson-Daniel has been a key figure for Gloucester Rugby since making his debut in 2000. Since then he has played over 100 Premiership matches, scoring 41 tries.
This season he achieved his best league total ever, with ten tries in his 18 Guinness Premiership appearances, including a try of the season contender against Bath Rugby in round 22 and one in their semi-final defeat to Leicester Tigers.
That try confirmed Simpson-Daniel as Gloucester's top scorer and the second highest scorer in the league.
Simpson-Daniel has been a constant threat this season for the league's second highest try scorers, confirming his place as one of the most dangerous finishers in the northern hemisphere.
Surgery on a niggling shoulder injury will prevent Simpson-Daniel from adding to his tally of ten England caps in New Zealand, but will hope to continue his excellent form for Gloucester into next season.
In second place was Bath Rugby's Olly Barkley, who played a massive part in the renaissance of the former English champions, helping them to third place in the league and victory in the European Challenge Cup. Barkley's form has seen him force his way back into the England reckoning and he will tour New Zealand this summer.
In third was Gloucester flanker Qera. In his first season of Guinness Premiership rugby, the Fijian has taken the league by storm, impressing all with his pace and physicality in both attack and defence.
Also honoured was Danny Cipriani who claimed the title of Land Rover Discovery of the Season.
Ciprinai's season was cruelly cut short ten days ago when he suffered a fracture dislocation of his ankle in his side's Guinness Premiership semi-final win against Bath Rugby at Adams Park.
Prior to that, Cipriani had lit up the Guinness Premiership and Heineken Cup with his intelligent play at fly-half, finishing the season with the most try assists of any player in the league and contributing six tries of his own.
Under Cipriani's youthful stewardship at fly-half, London Wasps have steadily climbed the table, winning nine of their last ten matches to finish the league in second place, before beating Bath Rugby to claim their first Premiership Final place since 2005.
Injury prevented Cipriani from attending the awards in person, but was presented with a Land Rover Freelander to use for the next twelve months at his home in south-west London yesterday morning.
It was an award double for Cipriani as he also claimed the PRA Young Player award last week.
Meanwhile, Ryan was honoured for his work with the league leaders this season by taking the title of O2 Director of Rugby of the Season.
Gloucester Rugby were top of the table for 21 of the 22 rounds, finishing the season as the league's second highest try scorers. Gloucester also reached a Heineken Cup quarter-final where they were knocked out by eventual champions, Munster.
Ryan has overseen the growth and continued development of his squad, based on a core of talented young English players like Simpson-Daniel, but also Nick Wood, Luke Narraway, Ryan Lamb, Anthony Allen and Olly Morgan. This season, Ryan has added to that with astute signings like Guinness Premiership Player of the Season nominee Akapusi Qera and Guinness Premiership Player of the Month in December, Alasdair Strokosch.
Ryan beat Bath Rugby's Steve Meehan to the award, with Harlequins' Dean Richards finishing third.
Worcester Warrior's Kai Horstmann won the MBNA Try of the Season Award for finishing off what was a length of the pitch effort by Worcester at Edgeley Park on Friday 29th February. Starting from under their own posts, Shane Drahm broke clear, before Worcester recycled the ball on the left and Thinus Delport sent over a long cross-field kick which Marcel Garvey tapped down for Horstmann to finish.
James Simpson-Daniel's effort against Bath Rugby in round 22 came second, with Fraser Waters' try against Leeds Carnegie on Sunday 30th September 2007 finishing third.
The Times Team Performance of the Season was presented by The Times' rugby correspondent David Hands to London Wasps for their epic 34-42 win over Bath Rugby at the Recreation Ground on Saturday 16th February, a match regarded by many as the match of the season.
