AWARDS EVENING IS A GALA OCCASION
Individual and team honours handed out
East London Rugby Football Club celebrated the efforts of players, volunteers, supporters and sponsors, with a gala awards presentation night and dinner to mark the end of the 2023/24 season.
The award trophies were handed out at the clubhouse in Memorial Park, West Ham, by Club Chair Simon Crick and vice-chair Kat Salthouse, who is taking over from Simon next season.
Players honoured in the 2023/24 season awards were:
• 1st XV Player of the Season – Luca Rizzo
• Vixens’ Ladies Player of the Season – Sorcha Caudery
• 2nd XV Player of the Season – Niall O’Shea
• 3rd XV Player of the Season – Andy Davenport
• 1st XV Most Improved Player – Antoine Louis
• Vixens’ Ladies Most Improved Player – Megan Hogg
• 2nd XV Most Improved Player – Thomas Mohan
• 3rd XV Most Improved Player – Mo Mohamed
• 1st XV Best Newcomer – Jack Bishop
• Vixens’ Ladies Best Newcomer – Ella Blom
• 2nd XV Best Newcomer – Jack Roughan
• 3rd XV Best Newcomer – Michael Thomson
• Young Player of the Season – Charlie Raw
• Club Person of the Season – Simon Crick
• Chair’s Award – Nick Parrott
• Special Recognition (The Birdy Awards) – Kat Salthouse and Zviko Jabangwe
The Special Recognition awards are given to those who have gone above and beyond either on or off the pitch. They are known as The Birdy Awards in honour of former Vice-Chair and club treasurer Deborah Bird who died in 2022.
Flowers were presented to Vixens Ladies Freya Challis and Sorcha Caudery to mark their debuts for Essex County Ladies. Third team player Pete Stubbs received a certificate for being recognised by the Rugby Football Union as a Valued Volunteer for his work in setting up the Titans junior squad.
Team top try scorers Luca Rizzo (1st XV), Freya Challis (Vixens), Matt Louis (2nd XV) and Frank Murphy (3rd XV top points scorer), were recognised. Special mention was given to Vixens Ladies Lauren Hatch and Alix Fitzgerald who were part of a World Barbarians women’s team in the Bingham International Gay Rugby tournament in Rome.
East London RFC Chair Simon Crick said: “I congratulate all the award winners. I thank all players, volunteers, supporters, and sponsors for their work, commitment and generosity throughout the season.”
A gallery of pictures from the awards night can be seen here: https://www.eastlondonrfc.com/photos/awards-night-june-2024-1106355.html