VETERAN lock Donncha O’Callaghan has topped Worcester Warriors’ tackling charts for their first season back in the Aviva Premiership.

The 37-year-old former Munster second row made an outstanding 221 tackles after appearing in all of Warriors’ 22 matches in his maiden season at Sixways.

According to the final Opta statistics, the former Ireland and British and Irish Lion was nine tackles short of Newcastle Falcons’ Mark Wilson, who headed the overall end-of-season tally.

O’Callaghan ended the season on a high after picking up the Worcester Rugby Supporters Club’s (WRSC) player of the year accolade.

But O’Callaghan was third in list of the players who conceded the most penalties (29) in the season.

That ill-discipline list was headed by Warriors prop Nick Schonert (33) and included hooker Niall Annett (23) and prop Val Rapava Ruskin (21).

Another vastly-experienced Warrior, Phil Dowson, also showed up well in the tackling charts, racking up 213.

Full-back Chris Pennell made 260 carries during the term – the second highest to Exeter Chiefs number eight Thomas Waldrom (324).

But the long-serving Pennell topped the list for the most metres made by a Premiership player.

Pennell covered a remarkable 1,796 metres – 252 metres more than Sale Sharks’ Mike Haley, who was second to the Warriors back.

Powerful prop Ruskin finished the season with 18 turnovers – the most by a Warrior – and fifth overall in the Premiership.

Ruskin was recognised by the Sixways fans, carrying off the WRSC Peter Watkins young player of the year trophy.

Explosive wing Bryce Heem, who scored seven tries for Warriors, managed to bamboozle 54 defenders, with leading try-scorer Cooper Vuna, who grabbed nine touchdowns, beating 39 players.

Heem finished with 24 off-loads – just two fewer than chart-topping Wasps star Nathan Hughes - while Vuna made 17 and Warriors centre Ryan Mills, 15.

Interestingly, Vuna made 29 breaks during the season – just three fewer than Wasps flyer Christian Wade mwho scored a Premiership record-equalling six tries. Heem totalled 26, while Wynand Olivier made 16.

Lock Darren Barry (49) won the most line-outs for Warriors and also picked up the WRSC committee’s True Warrior honour.

Warriors duo O’Callaghan (42) and skipper Gerrit-Jan van Velze (41) also featured among the leading catchers in the Premiership.

But five Warriors were among 25 players who missed the most tackles.

Mills (33) joined by Van Velze (29), Naama Leleimalefaga (27), Heem (26) and Dowson (25).

In last week’s list of top performers, lock Dan Sanderson topped Warriors’ tackling and line-out charts with 11 tackles and four safe catches in his farewell appearance in a Worcester shirt.

Heem (15) and Pennell (14) made the most carries for Worcester, with Heem (113 metres), Pennell (76) and Vuna (70) the club’s leading lights in the most metres gained.

Saracens full-back Alex Goode, who was outstanding in their 43-19 win against Warriors, topped the charts with 130 metres made.

Fly-half Tom Heathcote and Heem both escaped four defenders, while Heem (five) made the most off-loads and was followed by Mills (2).

O’Callaghan conceded three penalties against Saracens and was second only to Newcastle’s Nili Latu (four).

Vuna made three breaks for Warriors along with Saracens duo Goode and hat-trick hero Chris Ashton.