Winners who break down the barriers
A group of rugby volunteers from Somerset have won a prestigious national award for their trailblazing exploits enhancing inclusivity in the game.
Sam Trevor, Dave Copeland, Trevor Wallace, Simon Chambers, Alex Peters and Neil Fletcher from Walcot Warriors claimed the Game for All prize at the Honda Volunteer of the Year awards on Friday.
The Honda Volunteer of the Year awards are part of the Honda Volunteer Recognition Programme which provides a platform to recognise the volunteers who make up such an integral part of the game and who have made a great contribution to their club and community – no matter what their role.
The group, friends off the field beforehand, have broken down barriers in the Walcot community and beyond, providing common ground for people of all backgrounds no matter the circumstances to get involved.
This has included linking up with SEND schools, with 58 per cent of players with a disability or learning difficulties and waiving membership fees for those that cannot afford them.
This joint effort has seen the club go from strength to strength, with memberships increasing and retention at an all-time high.
Team manager Trevor, who picked up the prize alongside head coach Copeland on behalf of the group at an awards ceremony hosted at Twickenham Stadium, said: “It is a huge surprise to win it, we just do it because we love rugby and we are all ex-rugby players and all retired at varying points and for us, it is a great opportunity to still be involved in rugby.
“From a selfless perspective, it gives lads who have never had the chance to play rugby before an easy opportunity in the sport.
“It feels a bit strange to be rewarded for doing something that you enjoy and you do for your own sake as much as anyone else’s.”
The awards recognise the local heroes who have had a major impact in their clubs and communities and demonstrated their commitment to the game over the past 12 months.
It brings the opportunity to thank those who have gone above and beyond this year for teams, clubs, referees societies and educational establishments.
Over 1,600 entries were received, with nominees being recognised at local level, before winners from these events were put forward as national finalists, with 43 nominees recognised at an awards ceremony at Twickenham Stadium last week.
This group have created an environment where ex-players, new players and underrepresented players hold equal value.
That ethos has ensured lasting positive impacts on the mental and physical health of the individuals in the community and membership grow from 29 to over 40 active members, the bulk of whom come from underrepresented sporting groups.
Copeland said: “Going from not playing rugby to coming back in, I only wanted to come in as cone putter outer and all of a sudden it has morphed into what it is now.
“It is just a really wonderful thing to be involved in, it has become like Hotel California, nobody leaves and that is the essence of our club.
“That is a really nice bit about it, people don’t stop coming unless they are moving away.
“The award is just a wonderful thing for spending time with people we really enjoy spending time with, so it is pretty peculiar – we have been given an award for playing rugby and having fun with some lads that we call mates really but people seem to like it, so happy days.”
Briers said: “I am delighted that we can recognise our volunteers at the Honda Volunteer of the Year Awards.
“The event provides us with an excellent opportunity to thank them for all that they have done.
“Those attending represent a wider army of volunteers nationwide, the very best of our sport, who exemplify our core values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship.”
Rebecca Adamson, Honda Head of Automobile UK, added: “At Honda we strive to improve people’s lives through the Power of Dreams, and that same challenging spirit can be found in abundance at rugby clubs up and down the country.
“We see many parallels between our brand values and those of the individuals that are celebrated as part of the Honda Volunteer Recognition Programme. We are proud to recognise the enormous efforts of the volunteers that make Rugby such a special sport to be a part of.”
Volunteers are the backbone of grassroots rugby in England. If you’d like to get involved and make a difference at your community club, visit: www. englandrugby.com/volunteering.