ONE third of the players in this season’s Rugby Times Championship Dream XV ply their trade with Worcester Warriors — yet there are still several notable omissions among the Sixways ranks.

Although Worcester’s quintet of Miles Benjamin, Andy Goode, Tevita Taumoepeau, Craig Gillies and Graham Kitchener mean there are more players from Warriors than any other club, the likes of Neil Best, Adam Black and Marcel Garvey can feel aggrieved to have missed out.

Fly-half Goode collected the most votes of any individual with eight, while summer signing Josh Drauniniu is also named in the team and Pat Sanderson and Aleki Lutui are among the replacements.

The Dream XV is made up by votes cast from the 12 Championship clubs, with the player getting the highest number in their respective position included in the team.

Rugby Times Championship Dream XV 15 ROB COOK (Cornish Pirates) A stunning second season for the Pirates. Cook has been rock-steady in defence under the high ball and deadly accurate in front of goal. Championship’s leading points-scorer with 344.

14 MILES BENJAMIN (Worcester Warriors) Benjamin and Marcel Garvey have cut opposition defences to shreds with their pace and power on the wing. Benjamin has narrowly eclipsed his team-mate in the try-scoring stakes with 24 from 28 appearances, including three hat-tricks — two of them back-to-back.

13 MATT HOPPER (Cornish Pirates) Harlequins-bound Hopper has caught the eye with a number of strong-running displays at outside-centre. Hopper has been a virtual ever-present in the league campaign, scoring eight tries from 26 appearances.

12 JUAN PABLO SOCINO (Rotherham Titans) A fine first season in English rugby for the Buenos Aires Bull. A reliable goal-kicker and proven line-breaker, the 22-year-old single-handedly won many a game for the Titans.

11 JOSH DRAUNINIU (London Welsh) The Fijian-born England Sevens speedster has earned a contract at Worcester next season after a fine campaign that has seen the 25-year-old cross the line 16 times in 22 matches.

10 ANDY GOODE (Warriors) Singled out for punishment by opposing packs, England international Goode has gone about his business with good grace and to devastating effect. Stop Goode and you stop Worcester may be too simplistic an assessment, however, the 31-year-old’s contribution cannot be underestimated.

9 GAVIN CATTLE (Cornish Pirates) Pirates captain Cattle finds his way into the Dream XV for a record fourth time after another season where he has led by example.

1 MARK IRISH (Bristol) Narrowly fought off competition from apprentice Mako Vunipola for the number one jersey, as he has done at Bristol for much of the season.

2 DAVE WARD (Cornish Pirates) The hooker is one of only two players to retain their place in the Dream XV. Playing like a fourth flanker, Ward’s work at the breakdown and in the loose has been a standout feature for the Pirates.

3 TEVITA TAUMOEPEAU (Warriors) Former Tongan international Taumoepeau, a cult hero with fans, is the cornerstone of the division’s most feared pack. Has only missed four league games.

4 GRAHAM KITCHENER (Warriors) Premiership-bound Kitchener’s semi-final gaffe when dropping the ball over the try-line in the act of showboating against Bedford should not cloud what has been an outstanding season for the 20-year-old lock.

5 CRAIG GILLIES (Warriors) Hailed as a ‘model pro’ by head coach Richard Hill, Gillies remains one of the best line-out exponents around. Broke the club’s appearance record in November when he ran out for the 226th time in a Worcester jersey.

6 RYAN BURROWS (Rotherham Titans) A forceful presence at the back of the pack and a willing ball carrier, Burrows is tipped for a big future in the game. An ever-present throughout the campaign.

7 JAMES MERRIMAN (Bristol) The former Sevens specialist edged out Worcester’s Pat Sanderson after a fine campaign. Merriman also provided plenty of dynamism with ball in hand.

8 SIONE KALAMAFONI (Nottingham) The Tonga ‘A’ captain made a tremendous impact in his first season and Nottingham are glad to have tied him up on a new deal.

BENCH: Michael Cusack (Doncaster Knights), Aleki Lutui (Warriors), Ben Gulliver (Cornish Pirates), Pat Sanderson (Warriors), Daryl Veenendaal (Bedford Blues), Tim Streather (Nottingham), Dave Jackson (Nottingham).