Students top of their class
The Students RFU Annual General Meeting and Awards at Twickenham Stadium celebrated the highest achievements of university rugby and the appointment as chairman of Mark Hyndman, a long-standing part of the SRFU Committee and an great supporter of the university game.
Core Values University of the Year, the University of Sheffield where both the men’s and women’s work to achieve a one club approach has embraced all levels from beginner through development to competitive. The men set up a fourth non-BUCS team and the women entered a second team into BUCS. Social touch and an intramural touch rugby league have also proved popular and players have taken an active role in inclusivity programmes and multiple fundraiser initiatives.
University Student Referee of the Year was Allen Judge from the University of Manchester and the youngest member of the Manchester and District Referees Society. Allen refereed numerous games over the season, including BUCS games, Manchester Campus League, Saturday Senior League and Cup, Sunday Colts Games and Sale Sharks Academy games, refereeing an average of 2-3 matches per week.
Volunteer of the Year Rhys Amos from London South Bank University who has gathered a long list of achievements in his four years of active involvement in the university rugby club’s life. He took the men’s team from a development squad to not only representing the UK in a tournament in China, but also winning the cup for the first time in 22 years. He has also been been a constant source of support and advice to the women’s team.
University Student Coach of the Year Lawrence Mckenzie-Mockridge, having funded becoming a qualified coach for his team gained experience in clubs. He set up a communication link with as many male and female rugby players as possible to keep them in the game and help their physical and mental wellbeing, while fighting his own battles recovering from a serious bicep rupture.
University Staff Member of the Year Elaine Limond practically saved the UCB university club and created a partnership with Bourneville Rugby Club allowing UCB sports students to use a state-of-the-art, all-weather pitch and physio suite. A thriving new rugby club at the university with dedicated players and a promotion in the BUCS league, even saw them nominated as the Club of the Year in their annual university awards.
'Vaughan Parry Williams Award’ for Outstanding Contribution to the University Game is Newcastle University’s Matt Carterwho in six years with the university works at least 12 hours a day ensuring all players’ and coaching staff’s needs are met whether they are playing elite men’s or women’s rugby or just participating in the sport. Matt also set up and ran the NE Freshers’ League for students across three institutions.
The Students RFU congratulates all of the winners and nominees, and thanks everyone who contributes to the student game, helping to grow and better the offer across all levels.
