End of Season Awards.

Friday 11th April saw London Welsh adult players and club honours being awarded at the Annual London Welsh event.

In a season where so many people deserved an award for the sheer effort put in across the club by all of the players and volunteers it was almost a shame that everyone could have been given a specific award, but at the end of the night everyone came away a winner.

The awards started with our Women's team presenting their awards in which Paula Cooper almost needed a suitcase to take home the honours she received with a 300 appearance cap and the player's player of the year as well as most improved (which I am sure was a little tongue in cheek as she has been outstanding in all 300 games). The Women's section awards then continued with further caps being awarded for a 50th cap for Anita Morgan a 100th cap for Kat Underhill and a 100th cap for Alice Gayner. The other player award winners were Jemima Venning who was awarded Coaches player of the year, the best newcomer was Kirsty Fitzsimmons and Club person of the Year was Isabel Barclay.

The Supporters Club awards then followed and their three awards started with Paula Cooper being chosen as their women's player of the Year, Andy Black as their men's player of the year and Roger Bowen as Supporters Club personality of the year for his tireless volunteering.

The club honours were next to be handed out starting with the Golden Dragon award. This award which had 21 recipients was expanded by a further 7 with the addition of Paula Cooper, Ruth Barton, Cai Griffiths, Will Taylor, Jonathan Shankland, Haydn Parry and Mark Wilkin-Jones. This award is given to those that have made a real difference to the club by their contribution or to those deemed worthy of the honour through services to the game in general with a connection to the club.

This was followed by adding three more names to our list of Honorary Vice Presidents. This honorary position was given for long and dedicated service to the club with Marcus Wuest, Mark Wilkin-Jones and Simon Beer all being worthy recipients.

The last club honours award was the Maria Thompson and John Darbyshire award, given to the sometimes unsung heroes of the club. This award was given to Gareth Williams our amazing photographer who captures precious moments across the club week in week out in a such a professional manner. Unfortunately Gareth was unable to attend to receive the award in person.

The evening then finished with the men's awards for the three adult men's sides.

The first awards were the Caps with Andy Black receiving his 100th cap which is an incredible achievement in 1st XV rugby having been at the club for almost all of our reset period.

The 50th caps were awarded to Ed Couzens, Hywel Williams, Ben Davies, Tom Hunt and Daf Manley

For the 'Occies' Lewis Tucker was given the players' player award whilst the players' player award for the Druids went to Angus James. The Druids coaches player of the year award went to Jack Jakeman both players have had a storming season with the Druids finishing close runners up in their first year in London Counties & South Coast Premiership.

The best newcomer award was given to Byron Leach who has made a huge impact since his arrival in the 1st XV whilst the players' player award for the 1st XV went to Rhydian George and the 1st XV coaches player award went to Matt Hodgson. For any player to be singled out by their peers in a team that has won promotion into Nat 2 is a huge honour indeed and well deserved.

The awards finished with the players clubman of the year award went to Danny Griffiths which he found quite embarrassed to take.

All in all it was a fantastic evening with so many there to celebrate what has been yet another brilliant season at London Welsh.